Father, 30, identified as 20th California mudslides victim

A 30-year-old Thai immigrant was identified Sunday as the 20th victim of the mudslides that have devastated a Southern California community.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said Pinit Sutthithepa was found during search and recovery efforts in Montecito Saturday afternoon. The sheriff's office noted that Sutthithepa's six-year-old son, Peerawat, and 79-year-old father-in-law, Richard Loring Taylor, were among the victims.

The list of those still missing has shrunk to four. According to the sheriff's office, Sutthithepa's two-year-old daughter Lydia was among those who are unaccounted for.

According to friends, Sutthithepa initially came to the U.S. by himself, but sent his wife and two children money for years until he could bring them to America.

Recovery crews continue to slowly make progress digging away masses of mud, boulders and toppled trees in the coastal enclave. Officials said they've removed enough debris from creek canals to prevent another potential disaster when the next rainstorm hits.

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

ROB LOWE SLAMS BELLA THORNE OVER TWEET AFTER SANTA BARBARA MUDSLIDES

In addition to trying to find those who are still missing after Tuesday morning's storm, crews have made it a top priority to clear out debris basins and creek canals before another rainstorm. Long-range forecasts gave the crews about a week before the next chance of rain — and potential new mudslides — although the precipitation was expected to be disorganized and light. Another system was possible two days later.

"If we don't get those debris basins cleaned out, then we're not going to be prepared for the storm and we don't know what that storm is going to look like," said Robert Lewin, Santa Barbara County's emergency management director.

The mudslides ravaged the tony community, destroying at least 65 homes and damaging more than 460 others, officials said. Firefighters went door to door along several blocks, checking the structural integrity of the damaged homes.

The rest of the community's infrastructure was also damaged. Some streets were cracked in half and authorities closed bridges and overpasses because they were unstable.

"The bridges, the roads, they all need help," Lewin said.

CALIFORNIA MUDSLIDE CREWS DO 'WHATEVER IT TAKES' IN RESCUE EFFORTS

Eight large excavators were being used to clear the debris from Montecito Creek, Tom Fayram, the deputy director of the county's flood control district, said.

"Two days ago I passed by an area where there was no creek and today I went by and the creek was fully restored," he said. "We are making great progress and we have several days before that next storm."

A candlelight vigil for the victims and an interfaith service is planned for 5 p.m. at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Garden.

More than 2,000 searchers and recovery workers have remained in the community, carrying out backbreaking work in the summerlike weather that has made the stretch of Santa Barbara County coast about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles a haven for the wealthy, celebrities and tourists.

Much of the community of about 9,000 remained under mandatory evacuation orders, even unscathed areas, as crews both removed debris and worked to restore water, sanitation, power and gas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.