A record-setting flash flood wreaked havoc in the village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of three individuals—two young siblings and a man in his fifties. Officials reported that the victims were “swept downstream by the extraordinary floodwaters.”
Mayor Lynn Crawford characterized the loss of life as “the greatest tragedy of all.” The children, identified as Sebastian Trotter, 7, and Charlotte Trotter, 4, perished after their residence was entirely washed away. Their father, a U.S. soldier stationed at Fort Bliss, and their mother sustained injuries and are currently recuperating in a Texas hospital.
Their aunt, Tiffanie Wyatt, reminisced about the children, noting that Sebastian was an avid soccer enthusiast and a collector of Pokémon cards, while Charlotte enjoyed performing, making jokes, and giving playful makeovers with her toy cosmetics.
The identity of the third victim, a man in his fifties, has yet to be disclosed.
The flood occurred with alarming rapidity, as the Rio Ruidoso surged from three feet to over 20 feet in less than an hour, according to the National Weather Service. This area has been especially susceptible following the 2024 wildfires that obliterated 1,400 structures.
Danielle Silva from New Mexico’s Department of Homeland Security indicated that emergency teams conducted at least 85 swift water rescues, assisting stranded residents in escaping from inundated homes and vehicles.
This calamity follows significant floods in Texas that resulted in over 107 fatalities, with more than 160 individuals still unaccounted for. The Village of Ruidoso has conveyed its sorrow and solidarity during this challenging period.
