Death toll in California mudslides rises to 15

At least 15 people are dead due to Tuesday’s mudslides in Southern California, Santa Barbara County spokeswoman Yaneris Muniz said early Wednesday. At least 25 people are injured, four in severely critical condition. The search for survivors continued through the night, but is expanding with the arrival of a major search and rescue team from Los Angeles County and help from the U.S. Coast Guard and National Guard. Flash flooding in the Santa Ynex Mountains early Tuesday morning triggered the pre-dawn mudslides that smashed homes and swept away cars in the Montecito. Last month’s massive Thomas wildfire stripped the mountains of vegetation, which led to the mudslides after heavy rainfall this week. Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said dozens of homes were destroyed or severely damaged and that the number was likely to climb as rescuers reach locations still inaccessible. “Right now our assets are focused on determining if anyone is still alive in any of those structures that have been damaged,” he said.