Authorities have recovered the bodies of three men from a devastating mudslide near Lillooet, British Columbia, while one additional person remains unaccounted for following days of difficult search operations, officials said.
The slide occurred along Highway 99, also known as Duffey Lake Road, south of Lillooet after severe rainfall contributed to widespread flooding and landslides across parts of southern British Columbia.
The latest recovery efforts were carried out by police and search-and-rescue crews working through dangerous and unstable conditions. Despite extensive operations, authorities were unable to locate the fourth missing person.
B.C. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe confirmed in a written statement that search efforts for the missing individual had continued but ultimately proved unsuccessful. With available search avenues exhausted, the formal search has now concluded, although authorities are discussing what further steps may be possible.
The identities of the three men whose bodies were recovered have not yet been publicly released. Officials are working to identify them and notify their families before additional information is made public.
The tragedy began to unfold after a powerful mudslide struck the highway on Nov. 15, leaving four people unaccounted for. Emergency personnel faced significant obstacles while attempting to reach and search the affected area, including poor weather, unstable terrain and difficult access.
Earlier in the week, authorities recovered the body of a woman from the slide area. Her death was the first confirmed fatality connected to the flooding and landslides that struck the region following exceptionally heavy rainfall.
The latest discoveries have deepened the toll from an extreme-weather event that caused significant disruption across southern B.C. Communities have faced flooding, damaged roads and dangerous travel conditions as emergency crews work to assess the damage.
B.C. RCMP Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet said difficult weather and hazardous conditions at the site complicated the search for the remaining missing person.
Authorities have expressed their condolences to the families affected by the tragedy, emphasizing the sudden and devastating nature of the losses.
Lapointe said the B.C. Coroners Service will continue working to establish the facts surrounding the deaths and, where possible, identify measures that could help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Meanwhile, Highway 99 remains inaccessible to motorists in the affected area. Officials have not provided a firm timeline for when the road will reopen, underscoring the seriousness of the damage and the continuing safety concerns at the site.
For families awaiting answers, the recovery of the three bodies brings some certainty while also marking another painful chapter in the disaster. The fate of the remaining missing person remains unresolved.
Authorities continue to monitor conditions in the area as discussions proceed about the next steps. Officials are urging the public to avoid the affected section of Highway 99 and rely on official updates regarding road access and recovery operations.
The incident remains a stark reminder of the dangers posed by extreme rainfall, flooding and landslides, particularly in mountainous regions where road access can quickly become hazardous or impossible.
The situation remains under investigation, and further information is expected as authorities complete identification procedures and assess the affected area.
