HOUSTON, TX & RUIDOSO, NM – The Texas-New Mexico flash floods have unleashed a relentless and unforgiving deluge, causing catastrophic devastation across parts of both states. Communities are reeling, and emergency services are scrambling in the face of what is being called a historic weather disaster. As of Wednesday, July 9, 2025, more than 160 individuals remain unaccounted for in Texas following a holiday weekend tragedy, while New Mexico is grappling with its own deadly inundation that saw the Rio Ruidoso river swell to a record-breaking 20 feet.
The disaster in Texas, concentrated in the Hill Country, was triggered by the remnants of a tropical system that stalled over the region, dumping months’ worth of rain in just a few hours overnight between July 3rd and 4th. This torrential downpour caused the Guadalupe River to rise at an astonishing rate—surging nearly 26 feet in about 45 minutes in some areas—catching residents and holiday campers completely off guard in the pre-dawn hours. The suddenness and ferocity of the floodwaters turned streets into raging torrents, erasing campgrounds and tearing homes from their foundations.
Kerr County was the epicentre of the Texas tragedy, where the majority of the at least 120 fatalities occurred. A significant number of the victims were young girls and counsellors at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp located on the banks of the Guadalupe River. Harrowing tales of survival and loss have emerged as one of the largest search-and-rescue operations in state history continues. Over 200 people were rescued by air and water, but with telecommunication outages hampering efforts, the full scope of the human toll is still being uncovered.
Simultaneously, the picturesque mountain village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, became a focal point of a separate, yet equally devastating crisis on July 8th. Heavy monsoonal rains fell on ground already scorched and destabilised by the South Fork and Salt wildfires from the previous year. This created a deadly combination, leading to a flash flood that claimed at least three lives, including two young children, and prompted dozens of swift-water rescues. A shocking video that quickly spread across social media showed an entire house being dislodged from its foundation and swept away by the powerful currents of the Rio Ruidoso.
Local authorities in both states have declared states of emergency, deploying all available resources to aid in search and rescue efforts. President Trump has signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County, Texas, promising federal support. Shelters have been established to accommodate the growing number of evacuees, with volunteers and community members rallying to provide food, water, and support to those displaced by the extreme weather in Texas.
The economic impact of these floods is expected to be substantial, with widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, and businesses. As the waters begin to recede, the long and arduous process of recovery and rebuilding will commence. However, the immediate focus remains on the human toll, as families anxiously await news of their missing loved ones.
This series of events serves as a stark reminder of the increasing vulnerability of communities to extreme weather phenomena. The tragedies have prompted renewed and urgent discussions on climate resilience, the effectiveness of early warning systems, and disaster preparedness, particularly in flood-prone areas. As the nation watches, the strength and resilience of Texans and New Mexicans are being profoundly tested in the face of this unprecedented natural disaster.
