USA At least two dead in rainstorms in California
At least two people have died in a winter storm in California. A little girl is also missing, according to reports from the authorities and US media.
16.11.2025, 12:34
SDA
On Saturday, the rain reached its peak in large parts of Southern California, after it had been raining since Thursday evening. Warnings of flash floods and flooding were issued for the Los Angeles area and neighboring regions.
Landslides and mudslides threatened areas where fierce wildfires raged in January. Residents in endangered districts were called upon to leave the danger zones quickly if necessary.
By Saturday evening, eyewitnesses were reporting to the US media about fallen trees, flooded streets and smaller sinkholes. There were initially no reports of major landslides or property damage. The storm had stirred up the sea and caused high waves on the beaches.
Father tried to rescue his daughter
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office reported that the missing girl and her father were swept into the sea by a wave about six meters high on a beach about two hours' drive south of San Francisco on Friday. The mother tried in vain to intervene, but eventually rescued herself from the water.
According to the report, the father initially held onto the hand of his five-year-old daughter. He was later rescued from the water by rescuers and pronounced dead at the hospital. The search for the girl is continuing. The mother and her younger child, aged two, were unharmed.
The storm claimed at least one more victim. Near Sacramento, a 71-year-old man died after his vehicle was swept away by the floods, the New York Times reported, citing the local sheriff's office.
Barren burn areas particularly at risk from rain
After wildfires and on bare ground, heavy rain can have dangerous consequences. In 2018, severe forest fires first raged in the Santa Barbara area, followed by heavy rainfall. Mudslides and landslides destroyed hundreds of houses and more than 20 people lost their lives.
At the beginning of the year, two major fires, the Palisades fire on the western edge of Los Angeles and the so-called Eaton fire near Pasadena and Altadena, destroyed more than 16,000 buildings. At the time, the fire department was on a major mission for weeks to contain the fires. At least 31 people lost their lives.
