Two of the victims were children. Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford said "our hearts are broken for the families who have lost their loved ones in this terrible tragedy."

The flash flood emergency was triggered at 3 p.m. in Ruidoso on Tuesday, July 8. Swift water teams were out conducting rescues, officials said.

The Village of Ruidoso confirmed three deaths as a result of severe flash flooding on July 8, 2025 along the burn scars from last summer's wild fires.