Traffic & Transit

Authorities Rescue 50 People From Leo Carrillo State Park

Authorities rescued 50 people stranded at Leo Carrillo State Beach campgrounds after the creek overflowed Thursday morning.

Leo Carrillo State Beach campgrounds flooded Thursday morning, causing 50 people to be trapped.
Leo Carrillo State Beach campgrounds flooded Thursday morning, causing 50 people to be trapped. (Courtesy of California Highway Patrol )

MALIBU, CA — Fire department personnel from Los Angeles and Ventura counties rescued 50 people from the Leo Carrillo State Park Thursday morning when creek overflow trapped people at the beach campgrounds Thursday morning, making it impossible to reach to higher ground.

The rescue was just one of many storm-related emergencies in Malibu Thursday morning; the city advised all motorists to avoid Malibu roads entirely by 9:15 a.m. amid mud and rock slides, flooding and downed trees.

"We had some campers that were trapped, unable to make it higher ground, due to fast-moving water," said Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Ron Haralson. "Their vehicles were flooded up to the doors."

Find out what's happening in Malibufor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Los Angeles county personnel were dispatched to the scene at 4:22 a.m. Around 10 a.m., the department had reported 27 rescues. Authorities stuck around at this point to continue rescuing campers.

"We're still at the scene working with campground (officials) and their list of campers to confirm that we removed everybody and everyone is accounted for," Haralson said earlier Thursday. "No injuries and no loss of life."

Find out what's happening in Malibufor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The rescue effort also included personnel from the Ventura County Fire Department, the city of Malibu reported. California Highway Patrol officers were dispatched to the location at 7:51 a.m. to provide traffic control.


Read More: Dangerous Road Conditions Throughout Malibu, Avoid Driving: City


The National Weather Service for Los Angeles and Oxnard issued a flood advisory for Malibu through Thursday afternoon. Malibu is expected to have heavy rain through Thursday evening as the entire county is pummeled by a storm.

By 10:30 a.m., authorities had also responded to a mudslide at the State Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) and Puerto Canyon Road, rocks in the road at PCH and Decker Canyon Road and a downed tree at PCH near Escondido Beach.

City News Service Contributed to this story.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.