Death Toll Rises in California Mudslide as Searches Continue

Authorities say 17 people are now confirmed dead
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jan 10, 2018 7:10 PM CST
Death Toll From California Mudslide Rises to 17
In this photo provided by Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Kerry Mann navigates the large boulders and mudflow that destroyed the home of her friend in Montecito, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018. The woman who lives in the home has not been seen since the early hours of Tuesday.   (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)

Authorities now say 17 people have died in Southern California mudslides and another 13 are missing, the AP reports. The death toll rose Wednesday as searchers pulled two more bodies from the inundated area in the Santa Barbara County enclave of Montecito. Flash floods there on Tuesday swept immense amounts of mud, water, and debris down from foothills that were stripped of brush by the recent Thomas wildfire. Authorities say at least 100 homes have been destroyed. Hundreds of firefighters and others are hunting through the mud and wreckage. Three people were rescued Wednesday and authorities say about 75% of the devastated area has been searched. (More mudslide stories.)

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