California levee failure generates major flooding, evacuations

A levee on the Pajaro River in California's Monterey County failed, causing major flooding and forcing hundreds of people to evacuate as officials conducted rescue operations.

The levee broke late Friday evening about three miles upstream from the village of Pajaro, Monterey County officials said Saturday.

Pajaro, which has a population of 1,700 people, is underwater, The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday evening. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said officials conducted 60 rescues using high-water vehicles. 

As of Sunday morning, more than 8,500 customers are out of power from the storm in Monterey County, according to PowerOutage.us.

The storm has caused at least two confirmed deaths, officials said.