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At Least 17 Dead, Others Missing Amid Southern California Mudslides

At least 17 people are dead after powerful mudslides wreaked havoc on California's Santa Barbara County earlier this week.

At Least 17 Dead, Others Missing Amid Southern California Mudslides
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Article by Briana Koeneman
SMS
January 11, 2018

At least 17 people are dead after powerful mudslides wreaked havoc in California's Santa Barbara County.

Officials said Thursday 28 people were injured by the slides and eight are missing.

California's Devastating Mudslides Are A Product Of Historic Wildfires

California's Devastating Mudslides Are A Product Of Historic Wildfires

The wildfire-mudslide one-two punch has hit California in the past, but December's historic fires made 2018's mudslides particularly bad.

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Authorities say the death toll will likely rise in the disaster, which was fueled by heavy rains and flash flooding.

A spokesperson for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department told The New York Times officials are "still in the hopeful, optimistic mode" that they can rescue more survivors.

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.