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CNN Sunday Morning

California Mudslides: More Victims Found

Aired December 28, 2003 - 08:10   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.


SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: And in Southern California, searchers are losing home of finding any more survivors from the Christmas Day mudslides. Two more bodies have been recovered, raising the death toll to nine. Seven others are still missing,
Trisha Takasugi (ph), of CNN affiliate KTTV, updates the search in Old Waterman Canyon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): Friends and family members of those still missing in the massive mudslide that swept through St. Sophia Camp waited anxiously, holding out hope for any bit of positive news.

"We honestly have not lost hope of finding them alive."

Meantime, search crews and dog teams continue the tedious work of closely examining miles of mud, rock and debris, looking for any signs of survivors.

PAT GOMEZ, SAN BERNARDINO CO. FIRE: We can't just be using big bulldozers to be moving a lot of dirt around because, you know, there may be potential victims mixed up in that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Search dogs prove to be a crucial tool in the daunting search efforts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The dogs had two good leads in both those strainers (ph). So that would be where we want to focus our attention.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Later, crews discovered two more bodies.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The two latest victims were found in very close proximity to the camp, the chapel area. We now have a total of seven victims that have been recovered. We still have seven people missing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Two of the seven deceased victims have now been identified as the nine and 17-year-old daughters of the caretaker of the St. Sophia Church camp.

Caretaker Jorge Monson (ph), his wife and infant baby, have not yet been found. They and many of the other 27 people visiting the camp on Christmas Day were members of a local church.

it's very hard for them because they're (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Some are from Guatemala, some from Mexico. We're trying to help every one of them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS: Once again, that was reporter Trisha Takasugi from CNN affiliate KTTV.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 28, 2003 - 08:10   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: And in Southern California, searchers are losing home of finding any more survivors from the Christmas Day mudslides. Two more bodies have been recovered, raising the death toll to nine. Seven others are still missing,
Trisha Takasugi (ph), of CNN affiliate KTTV, updates the search in Old Waterman Canyon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): Friends and family members of those still missing in the massive mudslide that swept through St. Sophia Camp waited anxiously, holding out hope for any bit of positive news.

"We honestly have not lost hope of finding them alive."

Meantime, search crews and dog teams continue the tedious work of closely examining miles of mud, rock and debris, looking for any signs of survivors.

PAT GOMEZ, SAN BERNARDINO CO. FIRE: We can't just be using big bulldozers to be moving a lot of dirt around because, you know, there may be potential victims mixed up in that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Search dogs prove to be a crucial tool in the daunting search efforts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The dogs had two good leads in both those strainers (ph). So that would be where we want to focus our attention.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Later, crews discovered two more bodies.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The two latest victims were found in very close proximity to the camp, the chapel area. We now have a total of seven victims that have been recovered. We still have seven people missing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Two of the seven deceased victims have now been identified as the nine and 17-year-old daughters of the caretaker of the St. Sophia Church camp.

Caretaker Jorge Monson (ph), his wife and infant baby, have not yet been found. They and many of the other 27 people visiting the camp on Christmas Day were members of a local church.

it's very hard for them because they're (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Some are from Guatemala, some from Mexico. We're trying to help every one of them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CALLEBS: Once again, that was reporter Trisha Takasugi from CNN affiliate KTTV.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com