Thousands Stranded in California Mudslides and Floods

At least 2,500 people are stranded in the southern mountain regions of California after thunderstorms caused flash floods and massive mudslides, Sunday. One person has been reported killed.

Fire Department Captain Kyle Hauducoeur of the San Bernardino County said it would take three days to clear up the roads around the area for residents and traffic to move, reports Reuters.

A person was washed away with his vehicle off a Mount baldy road some 80 kilometers from Los Angeles, and died, Hauducoeur said.

A group of campers including 500 children are stranded at Forest Falls, after the surrounding roads were overrun by the mudslide and debris.

"Our concern is that they're isolated at that campground and no longer have access out of the mountain," Hauducoeur said."Our priority is using heavy equipment ... to open access to that camp."

Several people were rescued from the flash flood and treated for hypothermia, said authorities, reports the  Los Angeles Times.

Authorities are urging residents to stay inside and have used the services of 911 to pass on the message, reports Fox News.

According to them, the mud was several feet thick and it was dangerous for anyone to be out and about. At some places some people had to be airlifted.

Forest Fall got around  3 1/2 inches of rain, it was nearly 5 inches of rain on Mount Baldy, the National Weather Service said.

Official teams were assessing the extent of damage caused by the storms.