BREAKING NEWS!! Sad news just confirmed the passing of
Authorities have recovered the bodies of three men following a deadly mudslide near Lillooet, British Columbia, while one person remains missing, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
On Wednesday, search crews recovered one deceased individual. Two more bodies were located the following day, as confirmed in a written statement released Saturday by Lisa Lapointe. Efforts to locate a fourth missing man continued Friday but were ultimately unsuccessful.
Earlier in the week, on Monday, crews recovered the body of a woman from the same mudslide area. Her death marked the first confirmed fatality linked to the severe flooding and landslides that struck southern British Columbia following extreme rainfall over the weekend.
With all viable search options exhausted, officials have now concluded active recovery efforts, Lapointe said, though discussions continue about possible next steps. Authorities are working to formally identify the three men and notify their families.
According to the RCMP, four individuals were initially reported missing after the mudslide south of Lillooet along Highway 99. Search teams have been combing through debris in difficult conditions, confirming at least one fatality while continuing efforts to locate others.
“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 the statement.
She added that the year has been especially difficult for communities across British Columbia, noting that the BC Coroners Service will continue working to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and offer recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
Law enforcement and search-and-rescue teams have been investigating the mudslide that struck on November 15, affecting a section of Highway 99, also known as Duffey Lake Road. Janelle Shoihet said ongoing recovery efforts have been complicated by harsh weather and unstable terrain.
The affected area remains closed to motorists, and officials have not yet indicated when the highway will reopen.