The bodies of three men have been recovered from a mudslide near Lillooet, British Columbia, while one individual remains unaccounted for, following an extensive multi-day search operation, according to Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Search efforts intensified throughout the week after a powerful mudslide struck a section of Highway 99, also known as Duffey Lake Road, south of Lillooet. The slide was triggered by severe flooding and extreme rainfall that swept through southern British Columbia last weekend, causing widespread damage, road closures, and multiple emergency responses.
According to a written statement released Saturday by Lisa Lapointe, British Columbia’s Chief Coroner, one deceased individual was recovered on Wednesday, followed by the discovery of two additional bodies on Thursday. Despite continued efforts on Friday, search teams were unable to locate a fourth man reported missing in the area.
Earlier in the week, on Monday, the body of a woman was also recovered from the mudslide site. Authorities confirmed she was the first fatality directly linked to the severe flooding and landslides that have impacted the province during this extreme weather event. Her recovery underscored the deadly consequences of the storm system that overwhelmed parts of British Columbia in a matter of days.
