Three men were found dead and one person is missing after a massive mudslide struck British Columbia following extreme rainfall.
Three men have been found dead following a massive mudslide near Lillooet, British Columbia, while search teams have been unable to locate a fourth person who remains missing after days of extensive efforts.
“Difficult weather and hazardous terrain presented substantial obstacles for investigators and search teams,” B.C. RCMP Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet said. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe said crews continued searching for the remaining missing person through Friday. Authorities ultimately ended the active search after determining that all available search options had been exhausted.
Victims Identified, Search Suspended
The identities of the three men whose bodies were recovered have not yet been released. Officials said the victims must first be formally identified and their families notified before additional information can be made public. The deaths came as parts of southern British Columbia were hit by extreme rainfall, flooding and landslides that caused widespread damage and disrupted transportation across the region.
A woman’s body had previously been recovered from another section of the affected area, bringing the confirmed death toll connected to the disaster to four. The affected section of Highway 99 remains closed as authorities continue to assess conditions in the area. There is currently no firm timetable for when the highway will reopen.
Highway Closure and Investigation Ongoing
The route, also known as Duffey Lake Road, is an important transportation corridor through British Columbia, and the closure has disrupted travel through the region. The BC Coroners Service is continuing its investigation into the deaths. Authorities are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and whether additional measures could help reduce the risks posed by similar natural disasters in the future.
For search crews, the operation highlighted the dangers emergency responders face when working in areas affected by severe weather and unstable terrain, where conditions can change rapidly and additional slides remain possible.
