Mountain mudslide strands researchers

MAGDALENA, N.M. (KRQE) - Heavy rain unleashed a mudslide in the Magdalena Mountains Friday blocking a road and isolating researchers at a key New Mexico science facility.

The slide Friday afternoon isolated the Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research located high on 10,700-foot South Baldy Peak. Five New Mexico Tech scientists and two technicians were working at the facility whose primary mission is to study thunderstorms.

It wasn't long after the storm started that dirt and large boulders tumbled down the mountain sprawling over the only access road.

Five members of the lab crew abandoned their vehicles and were picked up by a four-wheel-drive vehicle that took them to safety. The other two walked down part of the mountain to a four-wheel-drive vehicle that also took them to safety.

"We had astronomers up here preparing the telescope," Van Romero, Vice President of Research at New Mexico Tech, said.

No one was hurt in the landslide.

The blocked road also provides the only access to the Magdalena Ridge Observatory . Both facilities are part of New Mexico Tech located east of the mountains in Socorro.

Late Friday afternoon heavy machinery was on the way to begin clearing the road.

More rain is in the forecast, thought, so that could be a factor in the clean up.

"There is a lot of water underneath it (the rock), so if it starts raining again, all of this could move a second time," Romero said.

New Mexico Tech officials said the lab will be closed until the road is open and safe, which may be a few days.

"it happens, we gotta clean it up and get back to work, that's all there is to it," Romero said.