Three dead, 13 missing after mudslides in California mountains

(12-26) 13:06 PST SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) --

Searchers found three bodies and poked through deep mud, jumbled trees and boulders Friday in hope of finding 13 people, mostly children, missing after mudslides roared through a church camp and a trailer camp in the fire-denuded San Bernardino Mountains.

Nine children and three adults were missing at Saint Sophia Camp in Waterman Canyon, which was smothered in chocolate brown mud up to 15 feet deep. Two bodies were found near there.

Another body was found in a wash near abut a half-mile from a KOA trailer camp in Devore, about five miles to the west, where one person was missing, San Bernardino County authorities said.

"I thought I was going to die," said Brian Delaney, 19, who described mud crashing into the KOA recreation center and trapping him up to his neck before rescuers pulled him out.

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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/12/26/state1606EST0072.DTL

I saw a newsclip earlier today on TV. I can't even fathom the profound sadness and anguish the survivors and victims' families must feel at this time.

My condolences to all the families and loved ones.

Fires. Mudslides. Hand-wringing! Some places just aren't suited for human habitation! (IE: unstable slopes, flood plains, barrier islands, fire zones, the entire American midwest.....)