South-central New Mexico was hit with deadly flash flooding after record rainfall in a mountain village.
According to USA Today, dozens of people were trapped in their houses after monsoon rains triggered devastating flash flooding on Tuesday, July 8.
Danielle Silva of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said that after multiple rescue missions in the Ruidoso area, the emergency responders have rescued at least 85 people from their homes and cars.
The town was vulnerable to mudslides and flooding after two major wildfires burnt the large areas last year.
The National Weather Service in Albuquerque declared a flash flood emergency for Ruidoso on July 8. The warnings for Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and the neighbourhood of Hollywood remained in effect until 7:15 pm on Tuesday.
The weather service wrote on social media, “A DANGEROUS situation is unfolding in RUIDOSO! A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY remains in effect! Seek HIGHER GROUND NOW! Do NOT attempt to drive through the floodwaters. The current will carry away your vehicle!"
Furthermore, the mayor of Ruidoso, New Mexico, stated that three people, including a middle-aged man and two children, aged 7 and 4, died in Lynn Crawford, while dozens are still trapped in their homes and fast-moving waters.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said on Tuesday night that she has “signed an emergency declaration request to get federal response teams and repair resources on the ground immediately. We're encouraged that additional federal resources are already on the way.”
“We've watched Texas receive the federal resources they desperately needed, and Ruidoso deserves that same urgent response," she added.
Videos posted on social media showed that the fast-moving floodwater swept away a home and covered roads with debris in Ruidoso.
Notably, the Rio Ruidoso river has also risen to a record high of 20 feet due to flash flooding, breaking the previous record of five feet.
