At least 17 people have died as a result of the mudslides, which has destroyed houses and caused substantial damage in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
The number of dead could climb as crews search through mud and debris that covered about 30 square miles.
(UPI)
12/1/18
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Rescue crews in Southern California have expanded their search for five missing people as the death toll following heavy mudslides rose to 18.
ReplyDeleteAbout 1,250 emergency workers raced against the clock to find survivors with drones, heavy equipment and sniffer dogs in the rescue and clean-up efforts, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services said.
The latest victim, an 87-year-old man, was found in his Montecito home, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said. He added that the remaining missing people were between the ages of 2 and 30.
"We've got a window that's closing, but we're still very optimistic. There've been plenty of cases where they've found people a week after," Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman Mike Eliason said earlier on a muddy Montecito street especially hard-hit by the mudslide.
Officials said secondary searches of damaged structures were under way.
RTE
13/1/18