Search Continues for Missing Person Following Deadly Mudslide Near Lillooet, B.C.
Authorities in British Columbia continue to search for one remaining missing person following a devastating mudslide near Lillooet that has already claimed multiple lives.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed that the bodies of three men were recovered from the slide area earlier this week. Search operations resumed on Friday in an effort to locate a fourth missing individual, but officials reported that the latest efforts were unsuccessful.
Earlier in the week, rescue teams recovered the body of a woman from the disaster site, marking the first confirmed fatality linked to the severe flooding and landslides that struck southern British Columbia after intense rainfall last weekend. With the recovery of the three additional victims, the death toll associated with the mudslide has risen significantly.
Authorities are currently working to formally identify the three men and notify their next of kin.
The mudslide occurred along Highway 99, also known as Duffey Lake Road, south of Lillooet. The disaster was triggered by extreme weather conditions that caused widespread flooding and landslides throughout the region, leaving communities isolated and transportation routes severely damaged.
Law enforcement agencies, alongside search and rescue personnel, have been conducting extensive operations in difficult and hazardous terrain since the slide occurred on November 15. Despite challenging conditions, crews remain committed to locating the final missing individual.
BC Coroners Service Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe extended condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who are grieving the sudden and unexpected loss of their loved ones, and to the family of the missing person we have not yet been able to locate,” Lapointe said in a statement.
She added that the BC Coroners Service will continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatalities and, where possible, make recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future.
Highway 99 remains closed to motorists, and officials have not announced a timeline for reopening the route.
