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CNN Live At Daybreak
Search for Victims of California Mudslides to Resume Today
Aired December 29, 2003 - 06:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Weather is also of concern in southern California, where officials fear that expected rains could bring more flooding and mudslides, like the ones that have accounted for at least 14 deaths.
Tricia Takasugi of CNN affiliate KTTV has more from San Bernardino.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Watch your spacing.
TRICIA TAKASUGI, CNN AFFILIATE KTTV REPORTER (voice-over): Working against the clock, teams of search crews continued the painstaking work of sifting through tangled debris, poking through thickened mud and searching tiny crevices, looking for victims swept away during the Christmas Day flash flood and mudslide. Search dogs once again proved to be the most important tool.
DAVID GRAVES, VOLUNTEER SEARCHER: There are different things we're finding out there. There is a lot of clothing we're finding in the area. So, it's just the dogs are working well trying to find the scent.
TAKASUGI: Relatives of the victims were taken up by bus to the campground area, where they held a brief prayer vigil. Also, they were able to witness the ongoing search efforts for their loved ones.
ROCKY SHAW, DEPUTY CORONER, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: The families had an awful lot of questions, and I think that it allowed them an opportunity to see perhaps what is taking so long.
TAKASUGI: But by day's end, the progress in the recovery effort overshadowed any hope of finding survivors.
SHAW: Today, we were able to recover five additional bodies.
TAKASUGI: Three adult bodies were uncovered in the area near the St. Sophia campground, but two bodies of juveniles were discovered in a wash basin more than four miles away. Only two of the original 14 missing have yet to be found.
SHAW: The only who are still outstanding and have not been recovered is an approximately 8-month-old male infant and one male who is approximately 12 to 13 years of age.
TAKASUGI: As officials brace for another rainstorm, they issued a public warning in hopes of avoiding any similar tragedies.
TRACEY MARTINEZ, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: When these flash floods hit, there is no warning. Everyone needs to be prepared, not just those that live up in the mountains where fires burned.
TAKASUGI (on camera): I'm Tricia Takasugi for CNN in San Bernardino County.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Today>
Aired December 29, 2003 - 06:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Weather is also of concern in southern California, where officials fear that expected rains could bring more flooding and mudslides, like the ones that have accounted for at least 14 deaths.
Tricia Takasugi of CNN affiliate KTTV has more from San Bernardino.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Watch your spacing.
TRICIA TAKASUGI, CNN AFFILIATE KTTV REPORTER (voice-over): Working against the clock, teams of search crews continued the painstaking work of sifting through tangled debris, poking through thickened mud and searching tiny crevices, looking for victims swept away during the Christmas Day flash flood and mudslide. Search dogs once again proved to be the most important tool.
DAVID GRAVES, VOLUNTEER SEARCHER: There are different things we're finding out there. There is a lot of clothing we're finding in the area. So, it's just the dogs are working well trying to find the scent.
TAKASUGI: Relatives of the victims were taken up by bus to the campground area, where they held a brief prayer vigil. Also, they were able to witness the ongoing search efforts for their loved ones.
ROCKY SHAW, DEPUTY CORONER, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: The families had an awful lot of questions, and I think that it allowed them an opportunity to see perhaps what is taking so long.
TAKASUGI: But by day's end, the progress in the recovery effort overshadowed any hope of finding survivors.
SHAW: Today, we were able to recover five additional bodies.
TAKASUGI: Three adult bodies were uncovered in the area near the St. Sophia campground, but two bodies of juveniles were discovered in a wash basin more than four miles away. Only two of the original 14 missing have yet to be found.
SHAW: The only who are still outstanding and have not been recovered is an approximately 8-month-old male infant and one male who is approximately 12 to 13 years of age.
TAKASUGI: As officials brace for another rainstorm, they issued a public warning in hopes of avoiding any similar tragedies.
TRACEY MARTINEZ, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: When these flash floods hit, there is no warning. Everyone needs to be prepared, not just those that live up in the mountains where fires burned.
TAKASUGI (on camera): I'm Tricia Takasugi for CNN in San Bernardino County.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Today>
