Mud

Californians are exposed to extremes. Lately, it's disasters of fire, flooding, and sliding mud.

Montecito, north of Los Angeles, was the site of at least 17 deaths. "The county coroner has listed the cause of death for each victim as “multiple traumatic injuries due to flash flood with mudslides due to recent wildfire.”

"On the stretch of the freeway by the Montecito Inn, several feet of mud and rubble collected in the road.

“It looks like a swamp — there’s so much stuff down there,” said Jose Gonzalez, a road crew worker stationed by a bridge over the 101. “Some of the locals think there’s probably bodies in there. I hope not.”

photo: reuters.com