The remains of three men have been recovered from a mudslide near Lillooet, B.C., with one person still missing, following search efforts conducted this week, as reported by the RCMP.
On Wednesday, one deceased individual was found, while two more bodies were discovered on Thursday, according to a written statement from B.C. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe released on Saturday.
Search efforts for a fourth man who has been reported missing continued on Friday; however, these efforts were unsuccessful, she remarked.
Furthermore, on Monday, the body of a woman was retrieved from the slide area, representing the first confirmed fatality due to the severe flooding and landslides that have affected the southern part of the province, which is partly attributed to the heavy rainfall experienced last weekend.
As all search options have been exhausted, the search operations have now been concluded, Lapointe noted, although discussions are still ongoing to determine the best way to proceed.
Authorities are currently engaged in identifying the three men and notifying their next of kin.
Four individuals remain unaccounted for following a mudslide south of Lillooet on Highway 99, as per the RCMP.
One person has been confirmed dead as rescue teams continue their search through the debris resulting from the B.C. mudslide.
“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 expressed in the announcement.
“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. At the BC Coroners Service, we will continue to strive to ascertain the facts surrounding these tragedies for the public record and, where feasible, provide recommendations to avert similar fatalities in the future.
Law enforcement, along with search-and-rescue teams, has been diligently searching for four individuals associated with a mudslide that took place on November 15, impacting a section of Highway 99, commonly known as Duffey Lake Road.
B.C. RCMP Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet stated that the search for the fourth missing person has been obstructed by unfavorable weather and difficult site conditions.
The region continues to be unreachable for motorists, with no information
