Rainstorms cause chaos in California

The Bush administration is being urged to designate southern California a disaster area after the latest storm to batter Los Angeles this winter created mudslides, destroyed houses, closed main roads and caused at least six deaths.

The Bush administration is being urged to designate southern California a disaster area after the latest storm to batter Los Angeles this winter created mudslides, destroyed houses, closed main roads and caused at least six deaths.

The relentless rain that usually drenches the Pacific North-west at this time of year has made an unexpected diversion to the City of Angels, dumping more than 30 inches (76cm) of water on freeways, winding canyons, lawns and swimming pools. The recent storm lasted six days, and the next is forecast this weekend, threatening to disrupt the Oscars.

LA's Mayor, Jim Hahn, who has scarcely been able to campaign for re-election on 8 March because of the weather, urged President George Bush to release federal disaster funds. Rain and seeping mud destroyed a third of the runway at a regional airport in Santa Paula, 70 miles north-west of Los Angeles. About 27 homes have been declared unfit for habitation, including one where a teenage girl died after a torrent of mud crashed through her bedroom wall. In the suburb of Sun Valley, an engineer died after he fell into a sinkhole 30ft deep and 200ft wide.