LILLOOET, British Columbia — The bodies of three men have been recovered from a massive mudslide near Lillooet, British Columbia, while another person remains unaccounted for after authorities concluded an extensive, multi-day search operation.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said search teams had been working through a dangerous debris field along Highway 99, also known as Duffey Lake Road, south of Lillooet, after a powerful mudslide swept across the roadway.
The disaster followed severe rainfall and flooding that struck parts of southern British Columbia, triggering landslides, damaging infrastructure and forcing emergency crews to respond across several communities.
According to a statement from British Columbia Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe, search crews recovered one of the men on Wednesday and located two additional bodies on Thursday. Teams continued searching the area on Friday but were unable to locate another man who remains missing.
The discoveries came several days after authorities recovered the body of a woman from the same mudslide site. She was identified as the first confirmed fatality directly associated with the flooding and landslides caused by the extreme weather event.
Dangerous Conditions Complicate Search
The search operation presented significant challenges for emergency personnel. Crews faced unstable terrain, deep layers of mud and debris, difficult weather conditions and the continuing risk of additional movement within the slide area.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet said deteriorating weather and hazardous conditions ultimately limited the ability of responders to safely continue the search.
Authorities determined that available search options had been exhausted and formally ended the active operation.
Despite the conclusion of the search, officials said the situation is not considered closed. Authorities are discussing what steps should follow, particularly because the area remains unstable and could pose additional risks to responders and investigators.
The RCMP said four people remain unaccounted for in connection with the mudslide, according to the information provided. Authorities are also working to formally identify the three recovered men and notify their families.
Officials emphasized that the identification process must be handled carefully, given the difficult conditions surrounding the recoveries.
A Community Confronts the Aftermath
The mudslide occurred amid a broader weather emergency that affected parts of British Columbia, where heavy rainfall and flooding caused widespread transportation disruptions, property damage and emergency evacuations.
Highway 99, an important transportation route through the region, was among the areas affected by the severe conditions.
For families waiting for information, the end of active search operations brings a painful period of uncertainty. Authorities have stressed that the decision to stop searching was based on responder safety and the exhaustion of available search avenues, rather than a lack of concern for those still missing.
Chief Coroner Lapointe expressed condolences to the families and loved ones affected by the tragedy.
As officials continue identification efforts and assess the unstable site, attention is now turning toward the investigation, recovery process and broader questions surrounding the extreme weather that triggered the deadly landslide.
The disaster serves as another stark reminder of the dangers posed by severe flooding and unstable terrain—and of the risks emergency responders face while searching for those caught in its path.
