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New Mexico town battles fires and flash floods

A New Mexico village facing evacuation orders due to wildfires is now grappling with flash floods caused by heavy rains.

Daniel Wu reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

  • Ruidoso, N.M., under evacuation due to the South Fork and Salt wildfires, is now facing flash flooding.
  • About 2.5 inches of rain fell in 30 minutes, causing floodwaters to surge down slopes charred by the fires.
  • The South Fork and Salt fires have burned more than 23,000 acres, destroyed 1,400 structures, and claimed at least two lives.

Why this matters:

The combination of wildfires and flash floods creates a dual disaster, compounding the risks and challenges for emergency response. Wildfires, which strip the landscape of vegetation, leave the ground unable to absorb sudden downpours, resulting in flash floods. This cycle of destruction not only endangers human lives but also disrupts ecosystems, washing away topsoil and further destabilizing the terrain.

www.washingtonpost.com
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