Landslide in Southeast Alaska
Tragedy struck a remote community in southeast Alaska as three individuals, including a young girl, were discovered dead following a massive landslide that engulfed a highway. The incident occurred on Monday, and the state’s Department of Public Safety has reported that additional individuals are still missing.
The landslide, which occurred around 9 p.m. local time on the Zimovia Highway near Wrangell, affected three homes along its path. Officials from Alaska’s Department of Transportation revealed that the landslide spanned an estimated 450 feet in width, leaving a substantial debris field in its wake.
During the initial search and rescue efforts on Monday night, the lifeless body of a young girl was discovered, and the remains of two adults were located by a drone operator on Tuesday, subsequently recovered by the department. A woman was successfully rescued from the slide area on Tuesday morning, but authorities believe that two juveniles and an adult are still unaccounted for.
While state troopers are leading ongoing search and rescue operations, the ground search was temporarily halted on Tuesday pending a safety assessment of the slide area. A geologist has since cleared certain ground portions, allowing the resumption of search efforts. Additional geologists are en route to Wrangell to conduct further assessments.
Wrangell Borough Manager Mason Villarma stated on Tuesday that approximately 20 to 30 people have been displaced by the destructive landslide. Recent days in the area have seen heightened precipitation, with over 3 inches of rain falling in the 24 hours leading up to the landslide. National Weather Service meteorologist Andy Park noted that winds reaching 61 to 87 mph on Monday evening could have contributed to the landslides.
Barrett Salisbury, a geologist with the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, highlighted that the southeast Alaska region is already prone to debris flows, with factors such as heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt, or saturated soil increasing the risk. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has declared a disaster in Wrangel due to the impacts of the landslide.
The Department of Public Safety in Alaska has cautioned against entering the slide area, emphasizing its continued activity throughout Tuesday night and the potential for additional landslides.
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