A man who saw the flash flood that descended upon the New Mexico mountain community of Ruidoso, killing three people and damaging dozens of homes, described the scenes as "unbelievable."

A man and two children were killed in a record-breaking flash flood that swept through a village in New Mexico on Tuesday, local officials said.

Parts of New Mexico have experienced unprecedented and deadly flash flooding over the last few days, causing major damage. At least three people, including two children, were killed in Ruidoso.

The village of Ruidoso is located in the southern part of New Mexico and is a noted vacation spot boasting camping and recreation amid its expansive forest landscape. World Population Review notes the village rose to a total of 7,600 in 2025. That was a decrease of the population by less than 1% in recent years.

The neighbouring state of Texas also experienced a major flood just a few days earlier, but with a very different outcome. The ferocity of the inundation in Texas caught forecasters and state officials by surprise, killing at least 119 people.

Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs and Hollywood, New Mexico, remained under a flash flood warning until 7:15 p.m. The children's family was visiting from Fort Bliss A Fort Bliss soldier and his family were on approved leave visiting the RV campground when they were caught in the sudden flash flooding,

While climate change is not solely responsible for causing the recent flash floods across the country, here's how it does influence these events and their impact.

Video shows a flash flood washing away a home in Ruidoso, New Mexico after slow-moving thunderstorms brought heavy rain to the area, breaking records along the Rio Ruidoso.