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. The three were "swept downstream by the unprecedented floodwaters that struck" the Village of Ruidoso, village officials said in a statement.

The New Mexico disaster came days after catastrophic floods in Texas Hill Country killed at least 119 people. Heavy rain lifted the Guadalupe River more than 26 feet in 45 minutes. Officials are looking through dirty water and debris for the bodies of more than 160 missing people.

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.