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.

Two children are dead after they and their parents — one of which is a soldier stationed at Fort Bliss — became caught in the flash flooding.

Three people, including two children, died after flash flooding swept through the village of Ruidoso, authorities said. The fatalities occurred as floodwaters surged through the area, driven by heavy monsoonal rains falling on burn scar terrain from last year’s South Fork and Salt fires.