Three dead after flooding inundates Navajo Nation in New Mexico

What the report says

Indigenous authorities in the US said flooding in northwestern New Mexico killed three people on Navajo Nation land, after heavy rain left roads blocked and waters rising around the community of Newcomb. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said police responded shortly after 12:30am local time to reports that people had been swept away by floodwaters. He said the victims were two adults and a child, and he offered condolences to the community and the families affected.

The incident came as weather officials warned of an elevated flash-flood threat across parts of New Mexico and neighboring states. The National Weather Service office in Albuquerque said moisture levels were unusually high for mid-September and cautioned that flooding could occur broadly across central and northern New Mexico. Other alerts were in place for parts of northwestern New Mexico and large areas of Arizona, while rain was also forecast for Colorado and Utah.

The deaths underscore the danger of fast-moving water in the US Southwest, where recent storms have repeatedly triggered evacuations, road closures and rescue operations. In general, flash flooding can develop quickly in dry regions because hard ground and intense rainfall can send water surging through washes, roads and low-lying areas with little warning.