Four Bodies Recovered After Mudslide on B.C.’s Highway 99; One Person Still Missing
LILLOOET, B.C. — Search teams have recovered the bodies of three men from a devastating mudslide south of Lillooet, while one individual remains unaccounted for, according to the B.C. Coroners Service.
The recoveries mark a grim escalation in the toll from the Nov. 15 mudslide on Highway 99, also known as Duffey Lake Road. One deceased man was located on Wednesday, with two more bodies found on Thursday. Efforts to locate a fourth missing man continued through Friday but proved unsuccessful due to hazardous conditions and poor weather.
B.C. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe announced on Saturday that all viable search avenues had been exhausted. While the formal ground search has concluded, officials are continuing discussions on the best path forward. Authorities are now focused on identifying the three men and notifying their next of kin.
The mudslide, triggered by extreme rainfall during last weekend’s atmospheric river event, struck a remote section of the highway, sweeping vehicles into debris. On Monday, crews recovered the body of a woman—the first confirmed fatality linked to the broader flooding and landslides that hammered southern British Columbia. In total, four people were initially reported missing after the slide.
“I also extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who are now grieving the sudden and unexpected death of their loved one, and to the family of the missing person we have so far been unable to locate,” Lapointe said in a written statement. “This has been an incredibly challenging year for all of us in B.C., and my heart goes out to the numerous families and communities that have endured tragic losses.”
RCMP Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet noted that adverse weather and difficult site conditions severely hampered search operations. The affected stretch of Highway 99 remains closed to motorists, with no timeline yet for reopening.
At the BC Coroners Service, investigators continue to piece together the circumstances of the tragedy, with the goal of providing recommendations to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incident is part of a series of weather-related disasters that have tested the province this year. As recovery efforts shift from rescue to investigation, communities across B.C. continue to grapple with the human cost of the severe flooding and landslides.
