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Image: California mudslides

U.S. news

Rivers of mud sweep through wildfire burn areas in California

Mudslides swept through Southern California after a powerful storm.

/ 30 PHOTOS
Image: Rescue workers search through properties after a mudslide in Montecito, California

A car is smashed against a tree after a mudslide on Jan. 11 in Montecito, California.

More than 100 homes were destroyed in the flash flooding following rains early on Jan 9 in Montecito and surrounding communities, according to the county. 

Search efforts continued in Montecito as the number of people reported missing rose to 43. The community is grappling with the deaths of at least 17 people. 

Kyle Grillot / Reuters
Image: Montecito Mudslide Aftermath

A car sits in floodwaters on Highway 101 in Montecito on Jan. 11.

Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP
Image: Mudslides Kill At Least 17 People In Santa Barbara County Where Wildfire Scorched Hillside

An urban search and rescue team member and his dog search a home on Jan. 11.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Image: Montecito Mudslide Aftermath

An emergency worker looks down from an overpass toward a flooded area of Highway 101 on Jan. 11.

Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP
Image: Mudslides Kill At Least 17 People In Santa Barbara County Where Wildfire Scorched Hillside

A Los Angeles County urban search and rescue worker searches a pile of debris on Jan. 11. 

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Image: Montecito Mudslide Aftermath

A car sits in floodwaters on Jan. 11 in Montecito. 

Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP
Image: Mudslides Kill At Least 17 People In Santa Barbara County Where Wildfire Scorched Hillside

A rescue dog searches for victims at a home on Jan. 11.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Image: Mudflow and damage from mudslides are pictured in this aerial photo taken from a Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit Fire Copter over Montecito

Mudflow surrounds damaged houses in this aerial photo taken from a Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit Fire Copter over Montecito on Jan. 10.

Matt Udkow / Santa Barbara County FD via Reuters
Image: Kerry Mann navigates the large boulders and mudflow that destroyed the home of her friend

Kerry Mann navigates the large boulders and mudflow that destroyed her friend's home in Montecitoon Jan. 10. Her friend was last seen in the early hours of Jan. 9.

 

Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire department via EPA
Image: Family members inspect the inside of a home covered in mud following the mudslides in Montecito

Family members inspect the inside of a home covered in mud in Montecito on Jan. 10.

Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire Department via Reuters
Image: Residents stand on a home that was destroyed by a mudslide

Residents stand on a home that was destroyed by a mudslide in Montecito on Jan. 10.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Image: Mudflow, boulders, and debris reach the roof of a single story home off San Ysidro Creek

Mudflow, boulders, and debris reach the roof of a single story home in Montecito on Jan. 10.

Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire department via EPA
Image: Fremont City Firefighter Jordan Castro checks vehicles that had been washed into the Pacific Ocean

Fremont City Firefighter Jordan Castro checks vehicles that were washed into the Pacific Ocean as he conducts search and rescue efforts in Montecito on Jan. 10.

Mike Nelson / EPA
Image: Homes and streets are surrounded by mud in a neighborhood of Santa Barbara

Homes and streets are surrounded by mud in a neighborhood of Santa Barbara on Jan. 9.

Davonte Marrow / U.S. Coast Guard via EPA
Image:

The U.S. 101 freeway at the Olive Mill Road overpass is flooded with runoff water from Montecito Creek on Jan. 9.

 

Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP
Image: Emergency personnel prepare to rescue a trapped woman inside a collapsed house in Montecito

Emergency personnel prepare to rescue a woman trapped inside a collapsed house in Montecito on Jan. 9.

Kenneth Sorg / Santa Barbara News-Press via Reuters
Image: Emergency personnel carry a woman rescued from a collapsed house after a mudslide in Montecito

Firefighters rescue 14-year-old Lauren Cantin after she was trapped inside a destroyed home in Montecito on Jan. 9.

She was discovered when firefighters using dogs in the search heard a scream. 

Using the jaws of life and other tools, rescuers sheared off debris from around Cantin. They worked for over six hours before freeing her Tuesday morning.

Kenneth Song / Santa Barbara News-Press via Reuters
Image: Emergency personnel evacuate local residents and their dogs after a mudslide in Montecito

Emergency personnel evacuate residents and their dogs through flooded waters in Montecito on Jan. 9.

Officials said many residents apparently failed to heed an earlier voluntary evacuation order — requiring more than 100 rescues and last-minute evacuations.

Kenneth Sorg / Santa Barbara News-Press via Reuters
Image: Montecito Flooding

A semi-tractor trailer is stuck in mud on U.S. Highway 101 in Montecito on Jan. 9.

Mike Eliason / Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP
Image: California mudslides

A large boulder sits in the middle of Bella Vista Drive in Montecito on Jan. 9.

Michael Owen Baker / AP
Image:

A member of the Long Beach Search and Rescue team looks for survivors in a car in Montecito on Jan. 9.

Daniel Dreifuss / AP
image: Montecito

Vehicles carried by the mud flow sit at the exit of the parking garage to the Montecito Inn on Jan. 9.
Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Image: California mudslides

A Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Rescue Vehicle tries to maneuver past vehicles on Hot Springs Road in Montecito on Jan. 9.

Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Image: California mudslides

A rainbow forms above Montecito while law enforcement and the curious survey the destruction on Hot Springs Road, California on Jan. 9.

Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Image: California mudslides

A home is buried in flood debris in Montecito on Jan. 9.

Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP
Image: Mudslides follow wildfires

Santa Barbara County Firefighters rescue residents from flood waters and debris flow in Montecito early Jan. 9.

Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Image: California mudslides

A women is airlifted by helicopter near the Santa Ana River on Tuesday after a storm trapped a group at a homeless encampment near San Bernardino, California. 

At least 50 had to be rescued by helicopters in Southern California after flooding from torrential rains. 

Stan Lim / Los Angeles Daily News via AP
Image: Montecito FLooding

A vehicle drives across a flooded US 101 freeway near the San Ysidro exit.

Frederic J. Brown / AFP - Getty Images
Image:

Jeff Gallup carries his bike through mud on Foothill Road in Carpinteria, California.

Michael Owen Baker / AP
Image: Mudslides follow wildfires

Firefighters rescue a Montecito resident on Jan. 9. 

Search for victims of California mudslides widens as death toll grows

Santa Barbara County Fire Department
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