At least 5 dead as heavy rains trigger flooding, mudflows and freeway closures across Southern California
LOS ANGELES - Heavy rains triggered freeway closures throughout the region Tuesday and unleashed mudflows in areas ravaged by wildfires last month, shutting down more than 30 miles of the 101 Freeway and leaving at least five people dead as rescue personnel scrambled through clogged roadways and downed trees, officials said.
At least five people had died in the Montecito area after a heavy band of rain struck around 2:30 a.m. causing "waist-high" mudflows, according to Mike Eliason, a public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. The mudflows knocked three homes from their foundations and left fire personnel rushing to free people trapped in vehicles and
