Residents are granted access to their homes again, yet over two dozen people remain unaccounted for in the wildfires devastating New Mexico.
"The rescue operatives are on the scene, accompanying canines for a house-to-house search, as reported by Mayor Lynn Crawford to KRUI-AM radio station yesterday. As of Monday's update, two individuals have been confirmed deceased, and a staggering 29 remain unaccounted for, according to the mayor. The affected area where the search is ongoing has been labeled as a 'no entry' or 'exclusion' zone.
The South Fork and Salt Fires, which ignited last week, have decimated over 25,000 acres, with the South Fork Fire currently 37% contained and the Salt Fire at 7% containment, as per the Southwest Area Incident Management Team. Over a thousand firefighters and FBI special agents are collectively working to extinguish these wildfires, with the latter also investigating the cause of the blaze.
As the nation battles this week's scorching temperatures, dubbed the deadliest weather phenomenon globally, these very conditions favor and intensify wildfire outbreaks.
In Ruidoso, two unfortunate wildfire-related fatalities have been documented. Authorities have identified one of the victims as Patrick Pearson, a 60-year-old guest staying at the Swiss Chalet Inn that met its end in the inferno. The identity of the second victim remains undisclosed by state police.
In the wake of the devastation, Mayor Crawford shared to KOAT CNN affiliate, "The anguish evident on the children's faces, as they fail to comprehend; the expressions on the people's faces... it's truly heart-wrenching."
Read also:
Despite the efforts of the rescue team, the whereabouts of several individuals, including us, remain unknown in the aftermath of the wildfires. The National Guard and local authorities are continuing their search operations to locate missing persons and provide assistance to affected communities.
