Two people die in California after their vehicle was submerged by heavy rains

Two people died early Thursday after their car was submerged in water following heavy rains in northern California.

Another driver was rescued by firefighters

from the city of Millbrae, south of San Francisco, who found him on the roof of his vehicle after responding to his emergency call warning that the underpass he was in was flooding, reported Detective Javier Acosta of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.

After saving the driver, the rescue team could not reach the two people who were in another car because the water "was rising too fast," Acosta lamented in statements to the local Mercury News.

Tornadoes, winds and storms wreak havoc in various parts of the United States.

Dec. 16, 202102: 26

Authorities have not released the identity of the victims

whose bodies could be recovered until the water in the area was drained several hours later.

The two vehicles were trapped in the water and, although he did not give further details of the fatal incident that is still under investigation, Acosta emphasized that "there was a heavy downpour at that time of the morning."

[They estimate that winter storm will leave up to 10 feet of snow in parts of the US]

"If you see stagnant water and if you are not sure of the depth, do not try to cross it. It is not worth it," he warned.

"Even a few inches of rain can alter the movement of your vehicle," Acosta added.

Alert zones

The National Weather Service issued flood warnings for heavy rains in different areas of the state of California.

It also warned of landslides in areas affected by this year's wildfires that left more than 2 million hectares burned and almost 4,000 structures damaged or destroyed, according to the Fire Department (CAL Fire).

Workers clear a landslide in Oakland, California, Thursday, December 23, 2021. MediaNews Group / East Bay Times v / MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Mountain dwellers were alerted to snow and rain showers that will occur during Christmas and into the following week, The Associated Press news agency reported.

"Localities at the foot of the mountains that do not normally receive snow

, especially from Sunday morning until Tuesday," reported the meteorological office of Sacramento, the state capital.

[Heavy rain and snow forecast for West Coast roads on Christmas Eve]

California will not be the only state affected.

Some areas of the country are expected to accumulate between five and 10 feet of snow.

The authorities have asked extreme caution to people who move by roads, since it is estimated that at least 100 million people will travel in their vehicles for these festivities. 

"A series of storms in the Pacific will bring periods of

of the western United States during the Christmas weekend," said the National Weather Service this Wednesday through the social network Twitter .