Californian Mud Slides – Death Toll rises – Watch video of rescue effort!

Rescue workers in southern California are searching for survivors after mudslides and flooding in which at least 13 people have died.

The deluge that washed over Santa Barbara County early Tuesday was devastating for a community that was ravaged by the Thomas fire only a few weeks earlier.

In just a matter of minutes, pounding rain overwhelmed the south-facing slopes above Montecito and flooded a creek that leads to the ocean, sending mud and massive boulders rolling into residential neighbourhoods.

Destructive waves of mud sliding down barren hillsides in Southern California slammed everything in sight.

The first rain in months caused mudslides when it hit ground that had been scorched by December’s huge wildfires.

The force of the mudslides was so massive that it destroyed homes, uprooted trees and washed away dozens of cars.