National guard conducting search-and-rescue missions as officials say more than 300 people rescued since Saturday
Associated PressSun 20 Oct 2024 18.22 EDTFirst published on Sun 20 Oct 2024 15.58 EDTShareThe New Mexico national guard is conducting search and rescue missions in Roswell after record rainfall resulted in severe flooding.
New Mexico state police said on Sunday that at least two people have died as a result of the flash flood, but information on the victims or the circumstances of their deaths were not immediately released.
Guard officials said more than 300 people had been rescued since Saturday, with 38 of those taken to hospitals for treatment of undisclosed injuries.
The National Weather Service said 5.78in (about 14.7cm) of rain fell on Roswell on Saturday, breaking the previous daily record of 5.65in (about 14.6 cm) set on 1 November 1901 for the south-eastern New Mexico city.
As several homes and businesses began to flood on Saturday, authorities said seven people were rescued after a car was swept away in floodwaters.
Albuquerque television station KOAT reported that the Chaves county sheriff had to evacuate onto the roof of his vehicle after his truck was among several vehicles stranded in water that rose up to the windows.
Roswell police said there were ongoing rescue operations in the city Sunday with meteorologists saying more rain and flash floods were possible.
“We’ve worked all night and continue to work with swift water rescue teams and other partner agencies to help our fellow citizens get to safety,” the New Mexico National Guard’s adjutant general, Maj Gen Miguel Aguilar, said in a statement.
Officials said they will “remain on duty to help Roswell as long as necessary” with 57 guard members on the ground.
They said the guard had several tactical vehicles at the scene that were capable of driving in 4ft (1.2 meters) of water.
The years-long global warming climate crisis – which is primarily spurred by the burning of fossil fuels – has made extreme rain and catastrophic flooding more likely, according to researchers.
Roswell has been synonymous with alien and unidentified flying object (UFO) conspiracy theories ever since the 1947 crash of a military balloon nearby.
Guardian staff contributed reporting
