Authorities say two people have been killed by a mudslide that has destroyed homes during a powerful Southern California storm.
Santa Barbara County Fire Department Capt. Dave Zaniboni says the bodies were found in mud and debris during rescue operations Tuesday in Montecito northwest of Los Angeles.
Zaniboni says several homes were swept from their foundations and residents are unaccounted for in neighborhoods below hillsides scarred by recent wildfires.
Crews are working to clear debris from a key stretch of U.S. 101 that was shut down along the border of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
There have also been reports from NBC and others of multiple homes on fire due to a gas explosion.
Daily News staff contributed to this report.
#BREAKING: Mudslide shuts down the 101 in Montecito. People asking to be rescued from vehicles who are trapped in water. Reports of homeowners trapped by rising water around their homes. Multiple homes on fire bc of a gas line break. @NBCLA photo cred: @_FabRamirez pic.twitter.com/9THfBqAiOA
— Daniella Guzman (@DaniellaNBCLA) January 9, 2018
NEW VIDEO: Fire burning out of control in Montecito. This is about a half mile away from the fire burning on Park Hill Ln. where there was a gas line explosion & several buildings are reportedly on fire. @nbcla Video from @TonyMiller_SB https://t.co/G9wsfA6mn3
— Daniella Guzman (@DaniellaNBCLA) January 9, 2018
Entire sky lit up as seen from upper village 4 am. Massive mud flows in Montecito causing gas line rupture. Emergency personnel having trouble accessing area. #montecito #storm #mudflow pic.twitter.com/2J4fSl030s
— Home Crush (@HomeCrush) January 9, 2018
Viewer Mary Long sent in this photo from Santo Tomas Lane in Montecito. Mud in her living room. #CAStorm pic.twitter.com/uRL2ZBuLQA
— Joe Buttitta (@KEYTNC3Joe) January 9, 2018
Multiple victims in Montecito flooding disaster. Several missing. 2 year old reportedly pulled from mud alone more coming.… pic.twitter.com/glvoGih8yR
— John Palminteri (@KEYTNC3JohnP) January 9, 2018
Debris covers the streets along Coast Village Road. #CAwx #CAstorm #SantaBarbara #Montecito pic.twitter.com/TvKezRyX20
— Fabiola Ramirez (@_FabRamirez) January 9, 2018
