Flash Flood Devastates Ruidoso, New Mexico

RUIDOSO, N.M. — Torrential rains triggered a sudden and severe flash flood in Ruidoso, a popular mountain resort village in New Mexico, leaving dozens of residents trapped in their homes and vehicles.

A shocking video circulating on social media shows an entire house uprooted by the floodwaters and swept down the Rio Ruidoso, colliding with trees along the way. The clip has gone viral, highlighting the disaster’s intensity.

No deaths or serious injuries have been confirmed so far, but rescue teams have saved over 85 people stranded in their cars and homes. The floodwaters were so powerful that the river level surged past 20 feet, setting a temporary record. Emergency crews are now searching through the debris to ensure no one else is trapped.

The region was already reeling from last year’s wildfires, which scorched vegetation and left the soil unable to absorb heavy rainfall. This made the recent downpour far more destructive, as water rushed through the burn-scarred landscape.

Ruidoso, located 115 miles from Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest city, is a well-known vacation destination where visitors flock for summer getaways and winter skiing.

Just four days earlier, a similar flood struck an area in Texas, claiming 109 lives and leaving many still missing. The back-to-back disasters have raised concerns about the frequency and severity of extreme weather events in the region.