Flash flooding prompts rescues in New Mexico mountain village
[July 25, 2025]
RUIDOSO, N.M. (AP) — Another afternoon of heavy rainfall Thursday
prompted flash flooding in the mountain village of Ruidoso, forcing the
closure of roads and the rescue of at least five people who were trapped
by the rushing water. |
This image taken from a provided video shows flood waters flowing over a
road in Ruidoso, N.M., Thursday, July 24, 2025. (Marissa Hensen via AP) |
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The southern New Mexico community has been reeling this summer,
with afternoon thunderstorms bringing more rain than the
surrounding mountainsides can handle. Past wildfires have
stripped the hills of trees and vegetation, leaving the Ruidoso
area vulnerable to repeated flooding.
It was less than three weeks ago that massive flooding killed
three people and damaged hundreds of homes, resulting in state
and federal disaster declarations.
On Thursday, residents shared videos on social media that showed
walls of muddy water coursing down creeks and over roads,
ripping apart a mobile home and toppling trees along the way.
Authorities were blocking traffic to keep vehicles out of the
water as onlookers watched from higher ground.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service routinely have
been issuing flash-flood watches and warnings as the summer
rainy season is in full force. They reported Thursday that one
stretch of the Rio Ruidoso had risen to roughly 12.5 feet (3.81
meters) as a result of the burn-scar flooding.
Flood watches also were issued Thursday for parts of northern
New Mexico around burn scars left by the 2022 Calf Canyon
Hermit's Peak blazes.
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