**Three Bodies Recovered From British Columbia Mudslide; Search for Fourth Person Ends**
LILLOOET, British Columbia — The bodies of three men have been recovered from a mudslide near Lillooet, while one individual remains missing, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said, after multi-day search efforts concluded amid hazardous conditions.
Search operations intensified throughout the week after a powerful mudslide struck a section of Highway 99, known as Duffey Lake Road, south of Lillooet. The slide was triggered by severe flooding and extreme rainfall that swept through southern British Columbia the previous weekend, causing widespread damage, road closures and multiple emergency responses.
British Columbia Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe said in a written statement released Saturday that one deceased individual was recovered on Wednesday, followed by two additional bodies on Thursday. Despite continued efforts 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 recovered from the same mudslide site. Authorities confirmed she was the first fatality directly linked to the severe flooding and landslides that struck the province during the extreme weather event.
Lapointe stated that all available search avenues have now been exhausted and active search operations have officially concluded. Discussions continue among authorities to determine appropriate next steps, given the unstable terrain and ongoing safety concerns at the site.
Authorities are working to formally identify the three recovered men and notify their next of kin. Officials emphasized that the process must be handled with care and accuracy, particularly given the condition of the site and the circumstances of the recoveries.
**Search Operations Concluded Amid Challenging Conditions**
At present, four individuals remain listed as unaccounted for in connection with the mudslide south of Lillooet, according to the RCMP. Law enforcement agencies and search-and-rescue teams had been actively searching the debris field since the slide occurred on November 15. Challenging conditions — including unstable ground, significant debris depth and worsening weather — significantly hindered recovery efforts.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet confirmed that adverse weather and dangerous site conditions played a major role in limiting operations and ultimately made continued efforts unsafe for responders. Those risks contributed to the decision to end active searches.
In her statement, Lapointe extended condolences to the affected families. She noted the difficult circumstances under which recovery work took place and expressed appreciation for the efforts of search teams who operated under hazardous conditions for several days.
The mudslide and related flooding form part of a broader extreme weather system that overwhelmed parts of southern British Columbia in a short period. Highway 99 remains closed in the affected section while assessments of the terrain continue. Officials have warned that the area remains unstable and have urged the public to avoid the site.
As identification work proceeds, authorities said further information about the victims will be released only after next of kin have been notified. No additional details regarding the identities of those recovered or the circumstances of their presence in the area have been made public.
The conclusion of active search operations marks the end of an intensive multi-agency response to one of the deadliest incidents linked to the recent storms in the region.
