Los Angeles County firefighters rescued eight people from water rushing into the San Gabriel River near Azusa Monday evening but one person is still missing.
Firefighters were alerted shortly after 6 p.m. to several people trapped on an island in the area of North Todd and Sierra Madre avenues. After carrying out eight rescues, they concluded the search for a ninth person shortly before 10 p.m.
Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Rubén Munoz said everyone involved appeared to be homeless.
This incident followed the massive winter storm in Southern California, which caused a rare blizzard warning accompanied by heavy rain.
José Quiroz lives nearby and was riding horses when he heard helicopters and witnessed rescues. He said it’s not uncommon for him to see people finding places to settle in the usually dry river bed.
“I noticed that homeless people go further and further to get away from people. So that would eventually happen with all the water coming in,” he said.
Muñoz said the icy, rushing water is a product of melting snow rushing downhill from the mountains.
“The water is very delicate,” he said. “The first foot of water is probably quite calm, but after that the speed below is very strong and can drag you down.”
Firefighters have planned to use a helicopter to continue the search for the missing person.
This story first appeared on Telemundo 52’s sister station NBCLA. Click here to read this story in Spanish