A man who saw the flash flood that descended upon the New Mexico mountain community of Ruidoso, killing three people and damaging dozens of homes, described the scenes as "unbelievable."

The neighbouring state of Texas also experienced a major flood just a few days earlier, but with a very different outcome. The ferocity of the inundation in Texas caught forecasters and state officials by surprise, killing at least 119 people.

Surveillance camera footage, which was sped up, captured rising floodwaters filling up The Ruidoso Trading Post in New Mexico in a matter of minutes.

At least 173 people are still missing in Central Texas, with the governor warning that ‘there could be more added to that list’

At least 118 people have died across six counties in central Texas after devastating flash floods swept through the region on July 4, as search efforts enter their fifth day. The flooding ravaged riverside communities along the Guadalupe River.