The force of nature: Satellite pictures show how Montecito has been devastated by mudslides as death toll climbs to 18 after an 87-year-old man was found dead at home
Tuesday’s mudslides have now killed 18, wrecking homes and dumping mud over the lawns and gardens
Seven people are still missing as searches continue, while an 18th victim was found dead in his house
Mudslides destroyed 100 houses damaging 300 others after debris spread across a wide swath of Montecito
1,250 rescuers have searched frantically for the missing after rivers of mud and boulders came through
Montecito, an affluent seaside community east of Santa Barbara, was affected as homes were demolished
Geologists and forecasters warned that intense rain could trigger deadly mudslides from the scorched areas
DAILYMAIL.COM
13 January 2018
Californian authorities have called for public help in locating seven people still missing after mudslides that killed at least 18, as crews carried on searching for survivors on Saturday.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office made a plea for information on any of the missing residents, while acknowledging that finding anyone alive would be a ‘miracle’.
‘The missing persons were reported by family and friends, and resided in areas that were heavily damaged during the storm and subsequent mudslides,’ the sheriff’s office said.
The sheriff’s office listed the names of the missing, who range in age from two to 62, in a statement on Friday night with an 18th victim being found on Friday.
Emergency workers found the body of an 87-year-old man in his house, authorities said as they searched through damaged and destroyed homes, sometimes for a second time.
There are around 1,250 emergency workers on the ground still trying to find and rescue those still trapped, Santa Barbara County spokeswoman Amber Anderson said to CNN.
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