Three dead, homes swept away as historic floods devastate Ruidoso
Three people died, homes were destroyed and the Ruidoso Downs racetrack was rendered inoperable after catastrophic flooding hit Ruidoso on July 8. Officials say the Rio Ruidoso may have reached record levels.
Rio Ruidoso rose more than 20 feet in hours, sweeping away houses and destroying the town's racetrack
Organ Mountain News report
RUIDOSO - At least three people are dead and dozens more were rescued after catastrophic flash flooding tore through the mountain village of Ruidoso on Tuesday, sweeping entire homes off their foundations and forcing emergency declarations across southern New Mexico.
Officials confirmed that a man, a 4-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy were killed in the flooding, which followed heavy rains late Tuesday afternoon. The National Weather Service had issued multiple flood warnings throughout the day, but the scale of destruction surprised even veteran responders.
According to preliminary data from the U.S. Geological Survey, the Rio Ruidoso surged from around one foot to more than 20 feet within hours — cresting at a provisional high of 20.24 feet. That figure, if confirmed, would mark the highest river depth ever recorded in the village. The water rose so rapidly that USGS sensors flagged the spike as an "equipment malfunction" — unable to fully process the extreme data.
A dramatic YouTube video compiled by Storm-HQ, embedded below, shows a house being carried downstream by floodwaters.
The following video contains intense scenes of flash flooding and structural destruction. No injuries or fatalities are depicted. Organ Mountain News has not independently verified the source of each clip included in the compilation. The footage is embedded here for its news value and to illustrate the scale of the disaster.
Footage compiled from various social media clips shows homes being swept away during the July 8 flooding in Ruidoso. (Storm-HQ video / YouTube)
More than 85 swift-water rescues were carried out, according to a report by Reuters. In a statement, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency, allowing for the rapid deployment of state and federal resources.
The Ruidoso Downs racetrack and casino were heavily damaged, forcing the cancellation of the 2025 racing season, according to KOAT and KOB. Video footage shows water pouring over the track and into the facilities.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reported that the Rio Ruidoso inundated multiple neighborhoods, prompting mass evacuations and leaving behind scenes of mud, wreckage and shattered infrastructure. More rain is in the forecast.
Organ Mountain News will continue to report on this story as conditions evolve.
