Body Found In Ruidoso, Officials Say

RUIDOSO, N.M. — One body has been found in Ruidoso,Sherry Kamali, an official with the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said Monday.

The Associated Press reports that the body of a 20-year-old man apparently swept away by flooding in Ruidoso was found Monday morning. The body was foundin debris near a washed-out bridge in the upper canyon area of Ruidoso.

His brother reported him missing yesterday.

Ruidoso Police Chief Wolfgang Born says witnesses told authorities the man went into the river on his own. His name was not released.

Authorities say from 350 to 500 houses, campers, mobile homes and structures were damaged in the flooding that hit the Ruidoso area yesterday.

Previously, only 60 homes were thought damaged.

Ruidoso’s emergency management coordinator Tom Schafer says about 350 people have been evacuated from their Ruidoso area homes and up to 500 vacationers were separated from their cabins, recreational vehicles and campers.

Schafer says another 200 people in an upper canyon area of the mountainous community are cut off because of washed out bridges.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.