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Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flash flood hits New Mexico mountain town, leaving at least 3 dead
At least three people, including two children, were killed in a wildfire-scarred village in southern New Mexico after torrential rain triggered raging flash flooding, officials said. The victims were swept away by what authorities described as 'record-breaking' floodwater in the Village of Ruidoso in the Sierra Blanca mountain range, a popular summer retreat area. One of the victims, Benjamin 'Timmy' Feagin, 64, was inside his RV at a local RV park when the vehicle was swept away by floodwater, his daughter-in-law Maria Pinon-Feagin told CNN. Feagin had recently retired and moved to Ruidoso to be closer to family and pursue his dream of being a cowboy, Pinon-Feagin said. The Rio Ruidoso, a mountain river in Lincoln County with headwaters near the Sierra Blanca Peak, swelled to an unprecedented 20.24 feet Tuesday. This reading is preliminary, but if validated, would shatter the old record of 15.86 feet set in July of 2024. Emergency crews carried out at least 85 swift water rescues in the Ruidoso area, including of people who were trapped in their homes and cars, said Danielle Silva of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, according to the Associated Press. Videos shared on social media showed a house being swept away by flood waters and powerful river currents uplifting trees and leaving cars and motorcycles covered in mud. The floods come on the heels of catastrophic flash floods in Texas where a death toll of more than 100 is still expected to rise, with dozens of people missing as of Wednesday morning. New Mexico's Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has declared a state of emergency in the area and asked for federal assistance. 'New Mexico is mobilizing every resource we have, but Ruidoso needs federal support to recover from this disaster. We've watched Texas receive the federal resources they desperately needed, and Ruidoso deserves that same urgent response,' she said on social media. Officials in Ruidoso had urged residents to move to higher ground Tuesday afternoon as the Rio Ruidoso surged drastically from under 2 feet to over 20 feet in less than an hour. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings and a flash flood emergency – the most severe form of flood warning – for the area as slow-moving thunderstorms brought torrential rain to the South Fork burn scar, an area affected by devastating wildfires last year that made it vulnerable to flooding. The South Fork and Salt Fires of summer 2024 scorched more than 15,000 acres, destroyed 1,400 structures, and left the landscape stripped of vegetation, making the terrain highly susceptible to erosion and flash flooding. Ever since, every downpour brings a renewed flood threat to disaster-weary Ruidoso and nearby Ruidoso Downs. The areas have been under at least 12 separate flash flood emergencies since June 2024. Some have resulted in massive debris flows and other flooding. The quick switch from fire to floods is an example of what experts say is expected to happen more frequently as the world warms due to fossil fuel pollution: flip-flopping between weather extremes. Rainfall events like the one that flooded Ruidoso this week are also intensifying as the climate warms. Nearly 90% of US cities experienced an increase in hourly rainfall rates since 1970, according to a 2024 analysis from Climate Central, a non-profit research group. Kaitlyn Carpenter, a Ruidoso resident whose art studio was destroyed in flooding last year, told The Associated Press she had been riding her motorcycle through town on Tuesday afternoon when the storm intensified. Seeking shelter, she joined dozens of others at the riverside Downshift Brewing Company. She began filming debris surging down the Rio Ruidoso when she spotted a house floating by that she recognized belonged to the family of one of her closest friends. 'I've been in that house and have memories in that house, so seeing it come down the river was just pretty heartbreaking,' Carpenter told the AP. 'I just couldn't believe it.' Her friend's family was not in the house and is safe, she said. Ruidoso Mayor Lynn D. Crawford expressed condolences in a statement, writing: 'The entire Village of Ruidoso extends our deepest sympathy and compassion to these grieving families during this unimaginably difficult time.' CNN has reached out to Ruidoso Police Department and New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for comment. This story has been updated with additional information. CNN's Diego Mendoza, Taylor Galgano and Emma Tucker and CNN Meteorologists Mary Gilbert, Briana Waxman and Taylor Ward contributed to this report.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Ruidoso flood horror: House swept away, 3 dead including kids as flash rains trigger dozens of rescues across New Mexico
On Tuesday, severe monsoon rains triggered flash floods in Ruidoso, a mountain resort village in south-central New Mexico. Local officials declared a flash flood emergency after water levels rose rapidly, sweeping away an entire house. Three people—a 4-year-old girl, a 7-year-old boy, and an adult man—were found dead downstream, confirmed by village authorities. Swift-water rescues and emergency response By evening, the floodwaters began receding, allowing rescue teams to intensify their search. According to Danielle Silva of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, at least 85 swift-water rescue operations took place. Responders assisted stranded residents in cars and homes, and three more people were hospitalized in stable condition, according to Ruidoso Public Information Officer Kerry Gladden. Local law enforcement, National Guard units, and public works crews coordinated the response, clearing debris from roads and rescuing those trapped. Silva noted the Rio Ruidoso reached a provisional peak of 20.24 feet, inundating the village and stranding vehicles in thick mud. Uprooted home magnifies scale of damage Social media posts, including an Instagram share by the BBC, captured images of a house torn from its foundation and carried by the floodwaters. Danielle Silva commented on the footage, stating: 'I've seen the video. We don't know if anyone was in the house.' A local resident, artist Kaitlyn Carpenter, witnessed the house floating past and recognized her friend's turquoise door. The home was unoccupied, and the family remained safe, she added. Mayor and officials urge vigilance Ruidoso Mayor Lynn D. Crawford, speaking on local radio Tuesday night, urged residents to report missing loved ones and noted that horses were found dead near the horse-racing track. He acknowledged that the community expected flooding—but added, 'this one hit us harder than what we were expecting.' In response, shelters opened across Ruidoso for residents unable to return home. Public works teams began clearing main roads, while authorities intensified search and rescue operations amid rising debris and blockages. Regional context: Wildfire, erosion & recent flooding This flood struck Ruidoso less than a week after fatal flash floods in Texas's Guadalupe River basin, which claimed at least 109 lives. Silva noted that Ruidoso's recovery was hampered by a recent wildfire, which removed vegetation and increased erosion, worsening debris flow during heavy rain. The burn-scarred terrain allowed water to rapidly funnel into the Weather Service meteorologist Matt DeMaria reported that summer thunderstorms formed over wildfire-scarred terrain, producing unusually heavy runoff. The Rio Ruidoso reportedly exceeded 20 feet, matching or breaking previous records. Flash Flood New Mexico: Massive Flash flood emergency with a 20 foot flood wave, debris flow and homes floating down the Rio Ruidoso River!Officials report the Rio Ruidoso River rose 20 feet in 30 minutes. This is a developing story. Community impact and ongoing cleanup Businesses like Downshift Brewing Company sheltered about 50 residents, including Carpenter, who described the scene as 'pretty terrifying.' Debris, downed trees, and petrol odors filled the air during the cleanup. Public works crews and emergency teams continue to clear roads and waterways. Three shelters remain open to support affected residents as officials monitor water levels and rebuild infrastructure. Ruidoso floods expose wildfire-related vulnerabilities amid monsoon rains, prompting emergency action as communities cope with urgent rescues and damage.
CNN
09-07-2025
- CNN
Video shows river rises dramatically in New Mexico flooding
Video shows river rises dramatically in New Mexico flooding At least three people, including two children, were killed in Village of Ruidoso in southern New Mexico, after monsoon rains triggered flash flooding on Tuesday, officials said. The Rio Ruidoso surged drastically from under 2 feet to over 20 feet in less than an hour. 00:36 - Source: CNN Automated CNN Shorts 11 videos Video shows river rises dramatically in New Mexico flooding At least three people, including two children, were killed in Village of Ruidoso in southern New Mexico, after monsoon rains triggered flash flooding on Tuesday, officials said. The Rio Ruidoso surged drastically from under 2 feet to over 20 feet in less than an hour. 00:36 - Source: CNN Video: Home washes away during floods in New Mexico At least three people, including two children, were killed in a mountain village in southern New Mexico, after monsoon rains triggered flash flooding on Tuesday, officials said. Video shows a home in Rio Ruidoso being washed away by what authorities described as 'record-breaking' floodwaters. Emergency crews carried out at least 85 swift water rescues in the Ruidoso area, including of people who were trapped in their homes and cars, said Danielle Silva of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, according to the Associated Press. 00:22 - Source: CNN Kristi Noem announces end of shoe removal policy at airport security Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a new policy stating the Transportation Security Administration will be eliminating the shoe removal security requirement 'effective immediately.' 01:06 - Source: CNN Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sentencing date announced Sean 'Diddy' Combs will be sentenced in a hearing set to be held October 3, after he was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister reports that Combs faces a max prison sentence of up to 20 years for both charges combined. 01:06 - Source: CNN CNN reporters press officials on timeline of their response to floods CNN Anchor Pamela Brown, a former camper at Camp Mystic, details how her CNN colleagues challenged Texas officials on their timeline of the flood response, four days after flash floods killed more than 100 people in Kerr County. 01:44 - Source: CNN CNN speaks to Texas search and rescue workers from Mexico A team of first responders from Mexico has joined search efforts in central Texas where at least 161 people remain missing following catastrophic flash flooding. CNN's Gustavo Valdés spoke with one of the group's responders on the ground in Kerr County to see the challenges the Mexican group now faces amid miles of debris. 00:38 - Source: CNN Texas Governor: At least 161 known missing in Kerr County At least 161 people are known to be missing in Kerr County as a result of the flood, according to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who cited 'combined law enforcement efforts.' 01:10 - Source: CNN Mexicans protest immigrants from US Residents of Mexico City are protesting against gentrification that is forcing some people out, and they partially blame the United States. More than 1.6 million US citizens already reside in Mexico, according to the US State department. 01:30 - Source: CNN New Barbie raising awareness about type 1 diabetes Mattel designed a new Barbie to represent those living with type 1 diabetes. CNN's Jacqueline Howard explains what makes this doll unique. 01:18 - Source: CNN Will AI replace human musicians? Recording Academy CEO weighs in Harvey Mason Jr., a music producer and CEO of the Recording Academy and GRAMMYs, explains why he's "optimistic but scared" about the impact of artificial intelligence technology on the music industry. Listen to his full interview on CNN's Terms of Service with Clare Duffy here. 02:02 - Source: CNN Kaitlan Collins presses Trump on who paused Ukraine weapons President Trump's approval of sending defensive weapons to Ukraine amounted to a turnaround after a senior White House official told CNN last week that the administration was pausing some of those shipments. CNN's Kaitlan Collins questioned the President about the pause. 00:28 - Source: CNN
Mint
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Mint
New Mexico flash floods: Severe flooding kills 3 in Ruidoso, sweeps away home following heavy rainfall
Heavy rains caused flash floods in New Mexico on Tuesday, resulting in three deaths, including two young children, while dozens of homes and vehicles were trapped in the resort village of Ruidoso, reported Reuters, citing a state emergency official and a village statement. 1. A flash flood emergency was declared in Ruidoso, New Mexico, on Tuesday amid heavy rainfall that caused an entire house to be swept downstream. 2. By Tuesday night, the water had receded, and search and rescue operations began, while public works crews cleared debris from the roadways. Heavy flooding was reported in Ruidoso, New Mexico. 3. Two children, aged four and seven, along with a man, were swept downstream and were found dead later in the mountain resort village, the report said. 4. Visuals have emerged online that show an entire house, uprooted from its foundations, careening downstream through the muddy waters amid the flash floods in Ruidoso, sideswiping trees along the way, according to an Instagram post shared by BBC. 5. Speaking about the video, Danielle Silva, a spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, told Reuters, 'I've seen the video. We don't know if anyone was in the house.' A house is carried away by flash flooding in Ruidoso on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. 6. Emergency teams, coordinated by local law enforcement and the National Guard, carried out at least 85 swift-water rescue operations in Ruidoso and the surrounding areas. Many of these involved people stranded in cars and homes due to rising floodwaters, Silva stated. 7. Silva further informed that the river rapidly rose to a provisional peak of 20.24 feet (6.2 metres) during the flood. As the waters started to recede in the evening, authorities began searching the debris for survivors. 8. The recent floods struck just four days after a deadly flash flood caused by heavy rains along the Guadalupe River, resulting in at least 109 deaths, while several people went missing amid the destroyed parts of the Texas Hill Country. Ruidoso, a popular summer vacation location and ski resort situated in the Sierra Blanca. 9. In New Mexico, Silva explained that the intensity of the debris flow was increased due to a landscape scarred by flames and devoid of vegetation after a wildfire, which was then followed by flooding that caused erosion soil. 10. Ruidoso, a popular summer vacation location and ski resort situated in the Sierra Blanca mountain range of south-central New Mexico, is approximately 115 miles (185 km) south of Albuquerque, the largest city in the state.
Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
After Texas, flash flood devastates New Mexico: House swept away, 3 missing
After flash floods devastated Texas on the Fourth of July weekend killing over 100 people, heavy monsoon rains in New Mexico has triggered flash flooding on Tuesday and trapped dozens of people in homes and vehicles in and around the mountain resort village of Ruidoso, while the floods swept away an entire house and at least three people were reported to be missing, state emergency official stated. The National Weather Service declared a flash flood emergency in Ruidoso, New Mexico after the village's river water reached a level of 20.24ft (6m) which could be a record. Reports stated that emergency crews conducted 85 swift water rescues in Ruidoso, including rescuing those who were trapped in their homes and cars, said Danielle Silva, spokesperson of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. WATCH: Structure swept away by flash flooding at Rio Ruidoso River in New Mexico. — AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) July 8, 2025 Dramatic footage on social media showed a house being swept away in the flood waters after being ripped from its foundations, with reports of more houses being lost. 'I've seen the video. We don't know if anyone was in the house,' Silva said. No deaths have initially been reported but the Homeland department's spokesperson added that the extent of damage would be known only when the water recedes. Gas leaks and power outages were reported across Ruidoso along with several road closures, a BBC report stated. Ruidoso's Mayor Lynn D. Crawford said they didn't evacuate the village but people whose homes have been destroyed in the flash floods can head to community centers for shelter. 'We knew that we were going to have floods…and this one hit us harder than what we were expecting,' Mayor Crawford said during a radio address on Tuesday night. The village of Ruidoso is asking US President Donald Trump for federal funding to help with the response. Trump is scheduled to visit Texas on Friday which was also hit by flash floods during July 4 Independence Day celebrations and has led to the killing of at least 109 people, while over 180 have been reported missing across the Texas state in the flash floods.
