Heavy rain on Tuesday caused devastating flash flooding and extensive damage in the town of Ruidoso, Videos and photos online show the extent of the damage, with rising water levels causing significant damage to homes and businesses.
During a monsoon storm, the town saw heavy flooding, resulting in homes being damaged or washed away by the floodwaters. The confusion was further exacerbated by reports of gas leaks and mudslides.
More than two dozen swift-water rescues had occurred, according to Mayor Lynn Crawford, and several bridges were submerged. As search teams resumed their work, three people were still unaccounted for.
Seasonal monsoon storms, which occur from late June to early September and can bring with them unexpected downpours and swift-moving flash floods, were implicated in the flooding.
Crawford called Tuesday’s incident one of the worst he had ever witnessed, adding to what he described as a disastrous period for the area. “Last year we had a bad one or two, but this one was right there with it,” he said.
There were reports of animals and people being ki**ed in the flooding, as well as several persons being hospitalised, and some 30 swift-water rescues had been completed.
Three fatalities were formally reported by the Village of Ruidoso. The victims were carried downstream by the record-breaking floodwaters and included a seven-year-old boy, a four-year-old girl, and a guy who was thought to be between forty and fifty years old.
On social media, community members have posted further losses in addition to the official dead toll. They included Tiffanie Wyatt, who subsequently confirmed that both of her niece and nephew had perished in the flood while she was looking for them.
Five-year-old Charlotte and seven-year-old Sebastian Trotter, who were last seen at Midtown RV Park, had also not survived, according to Darnell Benally, another neighbour.
Crawford expressed condolences to the affected families, emphasizing, “The entire Village of Ruidoso extends our deepest sympathy and compassion to these grieving families during this unimaginably difficult time. We are united in our sorrow and our commitment to supporting one another as we face this devastating loss together.”
As the community moves through this time of grief, officials have requested for privacy on behalf of the bereaved families and encouraged anyone who are in secure, dry areas to stay there because the situation is still dangerous. Residents who were unable to contact their loved ones were also instructed by the community to report missing persons to the emergency operations centre.