2nd Amendment Chat Room · BREAKING
SOCORRO COUNTY, NEW MEXICO, USA — Rio Puerco Flooding Closes Highway 60, Residents Told to Shelter in Place, 1 Person Mi
On Monday night, October 26, 2026, New Mexico State Police closed Old New Mexico Highway 60 in both directions near the old bridge by KIVA RV Park in Socorro County because of flooding from the Rio Puerco river. Police told people who live in the Sierra Ladrones area to stay inside (shelter in place), and said that if they have to leave, they should take Riley Road toward Magdalena. The National Weather Service says the Rio Puerco is at its highest level since July 1944. One person who was swept away by floodwater overnight in the San Francisco area of Socorro County is still missing, according to Valencia County Fire. A shelter is open at Finley Gym in Socorro. This comes after days of historic flooding across northern New Mexico and the Four Corners area: in San Juan County, the fire chief estimates up to 2,000 homes were affected and crews made hundreds of rescues, and a 39-year-old Santa Fe woman, Isabelle Beulaygue, died in the flooding on Saturday.
- Date
- October 26, 2026
- Location
- Old New Mexico Highway 60 near the old bridge by KIVA RV Park, Sierra Ladrones area, Socorro County
- Stage
- BREAKING
Last updated:
Evidence
Timeline
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NEW BREAKING
Update #9 — Missing woman found dead
The woman swept away by the floodwaters on Sunday night has been found dead by rescue workers. U.S. Highway 60 remains closed east of I-25, and the evacuation order remains in place. We are following this case and will update it again as soon as new information comes. -
Rescuers wade through Rio Puerco floodwater toward a stranded vehicle in Socorro County. Photo: New Mexico National Guard via KOAT BREAKING
Update #8 — National Guard Rescued 3 Firefighters Trapped by Socorro County Floodwater
The New Mexico National Guard says it rescued three firefighters who got trapped by the Rio Puerco flood in Socorro County, New Mexico. The firefighters were searching for a missing woman along Ramon Lopez Road near U.S. Highway 60 when rising water stopped their vehicle. They climbed onto its roof to wait, and Guard soldiers reached them in a high-water truck. Guard teams also walked several miles to reach cut-off homes in the small community of San Francisco and found 9 people and 7 animals, carrying rafts on foot for 4 miles where roads had washed out. On Monday, Oct. 26, Guard crews found the body of the woman swept away in the first flood. The San Francisco area is still under an evacuation order (people must leave and stay out), and the river is expected to rise again in the coming days. The shelter at Finley Gym in Socorro is still open, and U.S. Highway 60 east of Interstate 25 is still closed. -
CORRECTION What changed: Title now includes the state and USA
BREAKING
Update #7 — Correction: Title now includes the state and USA
Correction: Title now includes the state and USA
Title now includes the state and USA -
CORRECTION What changed: Corrected the state to New Mexico (NM).
BREAKING
Update #6 — Correction: Corrected the state to New Mexico (NM).
Correction: Corrected the state to New Mexico (NM).
Corrected the state to New Mexico (NM). -
BREAKING
Update #5 — Woman Who Died Is Named; Highway 60 Stays Closed
The woman swept away by floodwaters in Socorro County, New Mexico, was 64-year-old Grace Clark, the Associated Press reports; nine other people were rescued. County leaders say Highway 60 will stay closed while crews repair flooded train tracks. The Rio Puerco is still expected to peak Wednesday, and the evacuation shelter at Finley Gym in Socorro remains open. -
BREAKING
Update #4 — Rio Puerco Floods Over Old Highway 60 Bridge, Highest Level Since 1944
The National Weather Service says the Rio Puerco near Bernardo in Socorro County, New Mexico, reached 24.1 feet at 6 p.m. Mountain Time Monday, high enough to flow over the old Highway 60 bridge and flood streets in the village of San Francisco. Forecasters say the river has not been this high since July 1944. It should dip early Tuesday, rise again to about 21.8 feet Wednesday morning and fall below flood stage Thursday; the flood warning lasts until late Thursday night. -
BREAKING
Update #3 — River Expected to Keep Rising Until Wednesday
The flooding Rio Puerco river in New Mexico is not expected to reach its highest point until Wednesday, so the San Francisco area of northern Socorro County stays under an evacuation notice, the Valencia County Fire Department says. Rescue crews in boats took nine stranded residents out of their homes by 4 PM local time Monday. Officials have not yet said whether the woman found dead in the floodwater Monday is the same person reported swept away Sunday night. -
BREAKING
Update #2 — Woman found dead after floodwater swept her truck away
The National Weather Service in Albuquerque, citing local fire crews, says a woman whose truck was swept away by floodwater early Monday near Bernardo in Socorro County, New Mexico, has died. Swift-water rescue crews recovered her body at about 4 PM local time Monday (6 PM Eastern). Fifteen other people needed water rescues in the same area overnight. -
BREAKING
Update #1 — Police Tell Sierra Ladrones Residents to Shelter in Place as Rio Puerco Floods Highway 60
Monday night, October 26, 2026: New Mexico State Police closed Old New Mexico Highway 60 in both directions near the old bridge by KIVA RV Park in Socorro County because the Rio Puerco river is flooding the road. People in the Sierra Ladrones area should stay inside. If they need to leave, police say to use Riley Road toward Magdalena. The river is at its highest level since 1944, according to the National Weather Service. One person swept away by floodwater overnight in the San Francisco area of Socorro County is still missing. A shelter is open at Finley Gym in Socorro.
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