Southern California drenched by powerful Christmas storm, flash flooding
Governor declares state of emergency amid deaths, rescues, evacuations, floods and potential mudslides
A powerful winter storm is lashing Southern California, prompting California Governor Gavin Newsom to proclaim a state of emergency in Los Angeles and neighbouring counties.
Coastal communities are bracing for multiple months’ worth of rain in just a few days, while areas charred by wildfires face the risk of mudslides.
A third person has died, according to the Los Angeles Times. Meanwhile, a flood watch was extended for most of Southern California.
The state has pre-positioned emergency response resources across the state, including 55 fire engines and 10 swift-water rescue teams, to protect communities from the dangerous winter storms, according to a statement from Newsom.
San Bernardino County firefighters said they rescued people trapped in cars on Wednesday when mud and debris rushed down a road leading into Wrightwood, a resort town in the San Gabriel Mountains about 130km (80 miles) northeast of Los Angeles. It was not immediately clear how many were rescued.
The US Weather Prediction Centre said in a forecast early on Thursday that “numerous flash flooding events are possible. In addition, many streams may flood, potentially affecting larger rivers”.