CA Mudslides Kill 17; 100 Homes Destroyed

MONTECITO, CA -- California residents were recovering Wednesday after a rainstorm brought massive mudslides in a region that was recovering from the state's largest wildfire on record. The latest death toll from the mudslides was 17 and hundreds of other people were stuck in their homes, officials said.

The death toll is expected to rise in Montecito, a wealthy city within Santa Barbara County, about 4.5 hours north of Los Angeles. The region is home to celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, who posted a video on Instagram showing a high level of mud on her property.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, 100 homes were destroyed and 300 homes were damaged.

Residents shared images and videos on social media, commenting that the region looked like a war zone as military vehicles assisted local rescuers. Some images showed people standing on their roofs as they waited for help.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown described the area as a war zone during a Tuesday news conference.

“It was literally a carpet of mud and debris everywhere," Brown said.

Officials said mandatory evacuations were ordered for Montecito and nearby community Carpinteria but only a "fraction" of the residents actually left their homes. Roughly 22,000 people live in both communities, according to the latest census figures.

The region became prone to mudslides after a devastating wildfire, the Thomas Fire, scorching more than 280,000 acres that left a burn scar.

Mandatory evacuations and flash flood warnings were also issued for other parts of Southern California that also saw wildfires. One resident in Orange County was found dead in a flood, while a driver in San Bernardino County had his car washed away in a stream of water.

The rainstorm was expected to pass through the region Wednesday as rescuers used a search dog to look for anymore victims.

--Photo: A car and debris smashed against a tree along Hot Springs Road in Montecito, Calif. Heavy rain brought flash flooding and mudslides to the area in Montecito, Calif. on Tuesday, January 9, 2018. (AP/Daniel Dreifuss)

Also See:

Heartbreaking Photos Of California Mudslide Devastation

Body Found In Westminster Flood Channel

Swiftwater Rescue Team Frees Driver In IE Floodwaters