LOS ANGELES, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Ten campers were believed still missing Friday after Christmas Day rains triggered mudlides in Southern California.
About 24 campers were engulfed and trapped in San Bernardino County's Waterman Canyon, the Los ngeles Times reported. By late Thursday, search and rescue teams had plucked 14 campers from the muck, but 10 others were believed missing. One man reportedly watched in horror as his wife and daughter were swept away.
The campground is north of the city of San Bernardino in a section of the forest heavily scorched by recent wildfires and authorities said shifting mud and debris made the rescue work perilous.
"There are people of all ages still missing," San Bernardino County Fire Marshal Peter Brierty said. "It will be a horrible tragedy if these people can't be found."
The drama at the St. Sophia Camp -- a church-owned camping area north of San Bernardino -- came on what was, for much of Southern California, the first rainy Christmas in 20 years.
