Heartbreaking news has come from British Columbia where a devastating mudslide near Lillooet has led to the recovery of three men’s bodies, while another person remains missing despite exhaustive search efforts, according to the RCMP. The deadly slide struck a portion of Highway 99, also called Duffey Lake Road, leaving the local community in shock and highlighting the severe risks posed by extreme weather events in the area.
Authorities recovered the first man’s body on Wednesday, followed by two more on the next day. B.C.’s Chief Coroner, Lisa Lapointe, confirmed the tragic discoveries in a statement on Saturday, while search teams continued efforts throughout Friday to find the missing fourth person. Earlier in the week, rescuers had found a woman’s body, marking the first confirmed victim connected to the mudslide. With these four deaths confirmed and one still unaccounted for, the disaster has deeply affected families and residents alike.
The mudslide was triggered by unusually heavy rainfall that drenched southern British Columbia last weekend, causing floods and multiple landslides across the region. Lapointe stated that all possible search pathways have now been explored, and formal recovery operations have ended, though discussions on future steps are ongoing. Authorities are currently working to identify the recovered men and notify their next of kin.
Lapointe expressed heartfelt sympathy for the grieving families and the community still processing the devastation. She acknowledged that this year has been especially difficult, with several natural catastrophes hitting the area and forcing families into grief and hardship.
The B.C. Coroners Service will continue investigating the circumstances of the deaths to ensure complete public reporting and hopes to recommend measures that could prevent similar future tragedies. The mudslide struck highway 99 on November 15, sweeping debris across a critical travel route south of Lillooet. Emergency teams mobilized immediately but faced constant challenges due to ongoing rain, unstable ground, and safety risks, limiting access and hampering rescue progress.
B.C. RCMP Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet confirmed that dangerous conditions, including unstable terrain and bad weather, have prevented the continued search for the missing person. Safety remains a top concern for rescue workers, despite community pressure to bring closure.
Currently, the affected section of Highway 99 remains closed indefinitely, cutting off a vital transportation link. This closure has caused logistical difficulties for many local residents who rely on the road daily, though most people understand the safety concerns behind the decision.
This tragedy is part of a wider pattern of extreme weather events hitting British Columbia recently, including record rainfall, flooding, and landslides, which have destroyed homes, infrastructure, and displaced thousands. Experts warn that climate change is playing a role in intensifying these dangerous weather patterns, increasing the risk of disasters like this.
For the families who lost loved ones, the focus is now on healing. The recovery of the three men and the woman has offered some degree of closure, but the missing individual’s absence remains a painful reminder of the human toll. Community leaders have pledged support and mental health services for those affected.
As British Columbia faces ongoing challenges from a volatile climate, this mudslide serves as a sobering call to improve preparedness, build resilient infrastructure, and better protect vulnerable communities. While the highway closure may one day end and cleanup will resume, the memory of those lost will remain a lasting wound in the hearts of many.
