HANDOUT – In California, volunteers and emergency responders search for a missing 5-year-old boy who was swept away by floodwaters. Photo: Uncredited/San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office/AP/dpa – ATTENTION: For editorial use only in connection with the current reporting and only with full naming of the above credits
The Monterey peninsula, south of San Francisco, could be partially cut off from the rest of the state, Sheriff Tina Nieto warned in a press conference on Wednesday (local time). “Some of the roads will be closed and you could be stuck on one side or the other.”
The authorities also asked residents of the low-lying areas along the Salinas River to evacuate the area because of the flooding. Emergency services have been looking for a five-year-old boy since Monday. Flooding had swept away the family’s car, reported the US broadcaster CNN.
California is currently experiencing a third week of severe winter storms with heavy rain, violent winds, mudslides and flooding. According to media reports, the ongoing storms have claimed at least 18 lives so far. Important roads were badly damaged, and there were power outages. The weather service warned of heavy rain in northern California on Thursday. A storm is expected for the weekend.
(SDA)