Death Toll from Flooding in New Mexico and Texas Rises to 119 July 9, 2025 New Mexico & Texas, United State

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📰 Death Toll from Flooding in New Mexico and Texas Rises to 119
🗓️ July 9, 2025
📍 New Mexico & Texas, United States

📄 The confirmed death toll from the devastating floods that swept through parts of Texas and New Mexico has risen to 119, following reports of three more fatalities in the mountain town of Ruidoso, New Mexico.

According to multiple U.S. news outlets, including AP, CNN, and NBC, the victims—a 4-year-old girl, a 7-year-old boy, and a man in his 40s or 50s—were swept away by flash floods triggered by torrential rains on July 8. The incident occurred in the Sierra Blanca mountain range, where the Rio Ruidoso river overflowed dramatically.

The river reached a historic high of 20.24 feet (6.2 meters), shattering the previous record of 15.86 feet set last July. The National Weather Service reported a near-instantaneous 9-foot surge within minutes of the rainfall.

Dramatic video footage from local resident Kaitlyn Carpenter showed a house being washed away by floodwaters. The house belonged to a family friend who was fortunately away at the time. Emergency responders rescued 85 individuals stranded in flooded homes and vehicles.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has declared a state of emergency and requested federal assistance. The affected region had already been vulnerable due to a wildfire that scorched 61 square kilometers earlier this summer, stripping vegetation and increasing flood risk.

Meanwhile, Texas continues to grapple with the aftermath of flooding in Kerr County, where a flash flood on July 4 caused rivers to rise by up to 30 feet (9.1 meters) within an hour—described by Governor Greg Abbott as a “tsunami wall of water.” The event destroyed homes and swept away a children’s campground.

At least 36 children are among the confirmed dead in Texas, with 173 people still reported missing as search and rescue operations continue.

Climate scientists warn that these events reflect a broader trend. A 2024 analysis by non-profit research group Climate Central found that hourly rainfall rates have increased in 90% of U.S. cities since 1970, intensifying flood risks.

Continued rainfall and the saturated ground are expected to elevate the threat of further flooding in central and southern Texas. With severe storms still in the forecast, emergency response agencies are on high alert. These extreme weather events underscore the increasing urgency of climate resilience and early warning systems across flood-prone regions in the U.S.

🔗 Reported from Ruidoso, New Mexico – World News Climate & Disaster Desk
,Flooding ,Texas ,NewMexico ,ClimateCrisis ,ExtremeWeather ,WorldNews

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