© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
At least three people have gone missing after strong flash floods washed away a mountain village in southern New Mexico on Tuesday. The area was hit by intense torrential rains that triggered flooding severe enough to sweep an entire house downstream.
As reported by the Associated Press, emergency response teams carried out over 85 swift water rescues in the Ruidoso area, including individuals trapped inside vehicles and homes, according to Danielle Silva from the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
One of the videos captures the chilling moment when the strong floodwaters washed away an entire house. Sharing the video, PEOPLE wrote, “A flash flood overtook a village in New Mexico on Tuesday, prompting an emergency declaration.”
Watch here:
The video triggered a wave of reactions, with several users expressing concerns and hailing rescue teams. “Our beautiful Ruidoso. My prayers for the community,” a user wrote. “Everyone should be given life vests, and kayaks at this point,” another user commented.
“Till people are not accepting climate change as a reality. Technology needs to play a proactive role not reactive in warming people. So that they and live stock etc can move to safer zones. Moreover, the traditional methods of warming people are not being practiced,” a third user reacted.
The disaster comes just days after devastating flash floods in Texas claimed more than 100 lives and left at least 160 people missing. In New Mexico, multiple videos went viral, capturing the harrowing rise in the river’s water level and widespread flooding.
In 2024, two people lost their lives, and hundreds of homes were destroyed in Ruidoso during the South Fork and Salt fires. According to the BBC, residents were forced to evacuate as the fire burned 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) of land on either side of the village.
