Just days after catastrophic flash flooding claimed the lives of more than 100 people in Central Texas, another flash flood event has taken the lives of three people in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

A man and two children, ages 4 and 7, were swept downstream during a torrential rainstorm on Tuesday that caused the Rio Ruidoso to rise to a record-breaking 20 feet.

Heavy monsoonal rains began falling around 2 p.m. MDT over areas still scarred from 2024’s South Fork and Salt fires. The river rose more than 19 feet in less than an hour, reported AccuWeather.

The previous wildfire burn scars proved catastrophic, reducing vegetation and soil stability that would normally slow water runoff. This created the perfect conditions for the historic flooding that followed.

Emergency crews performed between 50 and 60 swift-water rescues as the crisis unfolded. The National Weather Service issued a rare flash flood emergency while residents watched homes wash away and urgent rescue operations unfold throughout their community.

More than 50 people were ultimately rescued during the disaster. Search and rescue operations continued as the community began assessing the devastation that had been left behind.

The river crested at over 20 feet, surpassing the previous record by five feet. Local officials repeatedly described the flooding as historic and unprecedented for the area.

Public works crews worked through the evening, clearing debris and recovering stranded vehicles. The scale of destruction prompted immediate calls for federal disaster relief.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham quickly declared an emergency and requested federal assistance.

“Tonight, I signed an emergency declaration request to get federal response teams and repair resources on the ground immediately,” she said, per Fox 4 KDFW.

“We’re encouraged to learn that additional federal resources are already on the way. New Mexico is mobilizing every resource we have, but the Village of Ruidoso needs federal support to recover from this disaster.”

Mayor Lynn Crawford expressed the community’s grief in a statement following the tragedy.

“Our hearts are broken for the families who have lost their loved ones in this terrible tragedy,” she said. “The entire Village of Ruidoso extends our deepest sympathy and compassion to these grieving families during this unimaginably difficult time. We are united in our sorrow and our commitment to supporting one another as we face this devastating loss together.”