In the wake of devastating flash floods that recently struck Texas, resulting in over 100 fatalities, New Mexico is now grappling with its own tragedy. Monsoon rains have unleashed flash flooding in the village of Ruidoso, claiming the lives of three individuals. The victims, a man and two young children—a 4-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy—were swept away by the rapidly rising waters on Tuesday. The village, a popular summer destination, witnessed the shocking sight of an entire house being carried downstream by the floodwaters.

Mayor Lynn Crawford expressed profound sorrow over the incident, stating, “Our hearts are broken for the families who have lost their loved ones in this terrible tragedy.” She extended her deepest sympathies to the grieving families and emphasized the community’s unity in facing this devastating loss. The Rio Ruidoso river surged to an unprecedented height of 20 feet, surpassing its previous record by five feet. This catastrophic flooding is attributed to heavy rainfall over burn scar areas left by last year’s South Fork and Salt fires.

Emergency crews were actively engaged in rescue operations, conducting between 50 to 60 swift-water rescues during the event. As the waters receded by evening, search and rescue teams continued their efforts to locate missing persons, while public works crews worked tirelessly to clear debris from roadways. Several vehicles were stranded in the mud as a result of the flooding.

In response to the disaster, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an emergency declaration to expedite federal assistance. She announced on Facebook that federal response teams and resources were en route to aid recovery efforts. Governor Grisham emphasized the need for federal support, drawing parallels to Texas’s recent receipt of federal aid following similar disasters. She concluded by affirming that Ruidoso deserves an equally urgent response to facilitate recovery from this calamity.

The Associated Press contributed additional information to this report.