Los Angeles, US, Feb 5 (EFE).- Intense storms that have hit the state of California since Sunday have left at least three people dead and thousands of homes and businesses without power.
A vehicle is buried in a collapsed garage and house that moved off its foundation down a hill as a powerful atmospheric river storm hits Southern California in Beverly Hills, California US, 05 February 2024. EFE-EPA/ALLISON DINNER
The three deaths occurred in Sacramento, Santa Cruz and Sutter counties, Brian Ferguson, the spokesperson for the state’s Office of Emergency Services, confirmed Monday.
Men attempt to clear debris from a mudslide as a powerful atmospheric river storm hits Southern California in Beverly Hills, California US, 05 February 2024. EFE-EPA/ALLISON DINNER
All three were killed by falling trees amid heavy rainfall.
Men attempt to clear debris from a mudslide as a powerful atmospheric river storm hits Southern California in Beverly Hills, California US, 05 February 2024. EFE-EPA/ALLISON DINNER
One of them was an 82-year-old man, who was found crushed by a redwood tree that fell on him in his backyard.
A vehicle impacted by a mudslide is abandoned on the road as a storm sweeps through Southern California bringing torrential rains and high winds, in Topanga, California, US, 05 February 2024. EFE-EPA/ETIENNE LAURENT
More than 267,000 homes and businesses in California are also without electricity, according to specialized website PowerOutage.us.
US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with California governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass on Monday evening and expressed his commitment to providing federal to those affected through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
On Sunday, Newsom declared a state of emergency for eight counties in Southern California, including Los Angeles, which experienced its rainiest day in almost two decades with a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours.
According to meteorologists, the greatest danger comes from the trajectory of atmospheric rivers, a huge corridor of moisture drawn from the Pacific Ocean.
Rain is expected to continue in the region until Tuesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.
The NWS warned that the storm could leave record levels of rain of more than 15 centimeters.
Strong winds also left thousands of people without electricity across California on Sunday while landslides seriously impacted several areas including the famous Malibu city, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. EFE
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