Efforts to search for survivors of severe mudslides in parts of Santa Barbara County, California, continued on Sunday, despite hopes of finding neighborhoods, officials said.
“We are still in the rescue phase and we still hope to find anyone alive, although the chances for this are slim,” said Justin Cooper, spokesman for a multi-agency response team.
He said the death toll had risen to 20 on Sunday, while four were still missing.
More than 900 emergency personnel arrived this week to join relief efforts by more than 2,100 residents and workers in local and federal agencies, including the Coast Guard, the Navy and the US Red Cross.
The disaster occurred on Tuesday when torrential rain hit the area near Monticito, north of Los Angeles.
Waterlogged hills collapsed, causing torrents of mud, heavy water, uprooted trees and rocks on the valley, causing what police called “horrific injuries” to victims aged between three and 89 years.
California’s Forest and Fire Protection Department said the destruction covered about 78 square kilometers.
