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Mud Slide Cuts Off Hwy 101 In Humboldt Co.

GARBERVILLE, Calif. (AP) -- The California Highway Patrol is shutting down a major artery through southern Humboldt County following a massive mud slide.

Officials estimate that a stretch of Highway 101 could be closed for up to two weeks. Crews may be able to open the section to one-way, controlled traffic in two to three days.

CHP Officer Len Johnson says tons of mud and rocks tumbled onto the highway about 5 miles north of Garberville around 9:20 a.m. Wednesday, causing the road to buckle under the weight.

The Times-Standard of Eureka reports that Southern Humboldt Unified School District officials have decided to close three schools for the rest of the week over transportation and food delivery concerns.

The closure comes as Humboldt supervisors were set to declare an emergency to deal with $2 million in damage to county roads.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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