Schwarzenegger visits slide scene

Mr Schwarzenegger praised the efforts of rescue workers

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger toured the Californian hamlet devastated by a mudslide that killed at least 10.

He watched as rescue teams continued to search for survivors in La Conchita, 70 miles (110km) north of Los Angeles.

The bodies of a mother and three young children were the latest to be pulled from the rubble early on Wednesday.

The slide was triggered by storms that have brought chaos to western US states in the last few days, and claimed more than 20 lives.

During his visit to La Conchita, Mr Schwarzenegger expressed support for plans to rebuild Ventura County's coastal village.

"In the past few days, we have seen the power of nature to cause damage and despair, but we will match that power with our own resolve," he told reporters.

Hundreds of firefighters, aided by sniffer dogs and local volunteers, have been working around the clock to try and find 12 people still missing.

"This is still a rescue operation. We have not given up hope on any of the people," said county fire chief Bob Roper.

Flood zone

But hopes of finding more survivors are fading.

Fire officials said a decision would be made soon on whether the search-and-rescue mission should become a recovery effort for bodies.

Parts of a hillside overlooking La Conchita collapsed

Ten people have so far been pulled out alive. Eight of them were taken to hospital, two in a critical condition.

Between 15 and 20 houses were destroyed or damaged when the slide hit on Monday afternoon.

Local television showed dramatic footage of an avalanche of mud which carried away trees and vegetation in its path and left huge patches of bare earth before hitting the neighbourhood.

Some houses were piled on top of each other and covered with up to 30ft (9m) of mud, rock and debris.

The rains follow storms that have battered the normally dry region since the middle of December and brought heavy snow to the mountains of northern California.

Central Los Angeles has had 22in (56cm) of rain so far this winter, compared to a seasonal average of 15in.

The rain has saturated the soil, turning the normally mild region into a flood zone.

The storms have led to the deaths of more than 20 people in California, two in Utah and one in Nevada.