Flash flooding in New Mexico resort town traps dozens in homes and vehicles

Heavy monsoon rain has unleashed sudden flash flooding around the mountain village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, trapping dozens of people in vehicles and homes and even sweeping away an entire house, according to state emergency officials.

Viral footage captured the dramatic moment the house, torn from its foundation, was carried by the raging, muddy waters of the Rio Ruidoso, colliding with trees as it floated downstream.

"We’ve seen the video, but we don’t yet know if anyone was inside the house," said Danielle Silva, spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

As of Tuesday night, there were no confirmed reports of injuries or fatalities. However, emergency crews, including National Guard units stationed in the area, conducted at least 85 swift-water rescues, helping individuals stranded in their cars and homes.

Silva noted that the river had surged to a preliminary record height of 6.2 metres (20.24 feet) during the peak of the flooding. As waters began to recede in the evening, search efforts were underway to comb through debris for possible survivors.

The disaster’s impact was made worse by the region’s vulnerability following a wildfire last June, which left the terrain barren and prone to erosion. That fire had already caused flooding and further weakened the soil.

Ruidoso, located in the Sierra Blanca mountains around 185 km (115 miles) south of Albuquerque, is a well-known destination for summer tourism and winter skiing.

This latest flood comes just days after a catastrophic flash flood in Texas Hill Country, where torrential rains along the Guadalupe River killed at least 109 people and left many more unaccounted for.

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