Oprah Winfrey has said she is praying for the people of Santa Barbara after southern California was hit by deadly mudslides.
The television host, who triggered fevered speculation she will run for president following a rousing speech at the Golden Globes, took to Instagram as it emerged at least 13 people had died in flash flooding in the state.
Most deaths are feared to have occurred in Montecito, a wealthy area of Santa Barbara that is home to celebrities including Oprah, Rob Lowe and Ellen DeGeneres.
Alongside pictures of the mud in her back garden and a video of a helicopter that had been rescuing her neighbours, she said: “What a day! Praying for our community again in Santa Barbara… Helicopters rescuing my neighbors. Looking for missing persons. 13 lives lost.”
At least 25 people were injured and several more are unaccounted for after the flash floods hit areas which were ravaged by the largest wildfire in California’s history in December.
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