Crews clear debris as mudslides kill 20 people

Recovery crews are slowly making progress digging away masses of mud, boulders and toppled trees in a California community that was ravaged by deadly mudslides that have killed at least 20 people.

Officials claimed they had removed enough debris from creek canals to prevent a further potential disaster before another rainstorm.

Workers were using backhoes, jackhammers and chainsaws to clear the debris in Montecito, nearly a week after a powerful storm sent flash floods cascading through mountain slopes that were burned bare by a huge wildfire last month.

Five people remain missing on top of the death toll.

Long-range forecasts have given crews about a week before the next chance of rain and potential new mudslides.