One dead, 4 missing after floods sweep people into riverbed, California rescuers say

UPDATE: This story has been updated to reflect the latest numbers for those missing and rescued.

Four people are missing and one is dead after a massive flood swept them into a riverbed in California, authorities said.

At around 9:45 a.m. on Nov. 8, the Ontario Fire Department received reports from San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach and Proactive Enforcement that multiple people experiencing homelessness needed rescuing from a riverbed at 1200 E. 4th St., according to statement by the city of Ontario.

First responders determined that 10 people were missing, according to KTLA.

Rescuers found one person dead and were able to rescue five people, according to a tweet by the Ontario Fire Department.

Rescuers are still looking for the four people who are missing, according to officials.

Witnesses reported seeing the four people in the water, but authorities aren’t sure if they escaped or are dead, according to KTLA.

“As far as we know, there were homeless people in the storm drains and that’s when they got washed away by the surge of water and they ended up in the actual storm drain system,” Ontario Fire Department Chief Ray Gayk told the Los Angeles Times.

Ontario is about 40 miles east of Los Angeles.

This story was originally published November 9, 2022 at 2:40 PM with the headline "One dead, 4 missing after floods sweep people into riverbed, California rescuers say."