Four lives have been lost, and one man is still missing. After a mudslide tore across Highway 99 near Lillooet, B.C., crews faced dangerous conditions while searching for those caught in its path. Now, with search efforts halted and the road still closed, grieving families face devastating losses while another man’s fate remains unknown amid the disaster’s painful afte… Continues…
The November 15 slide struck Duffey Lake Road during extreme rainfall, becoming one of several weather-related disasters across southern British Columbia. RCMP confirmed the deaths of three men after a woman’s body had been recovered Monday. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe said one man’s body was found Wednesday and two others Thursday. A fourth man remained unaccounted for when authorities ended the search after exhausting all avenues. Unstable terrain and persistent bad weather had complicated the rescue teams’ work.
Authorities were working to identify the deceased and notify their families. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families grieving the loss of their loved ones,” Lapointe said, acknowledging an exceptionally difficult year for the province. The B.C. Coroners Service continued investigating the deaths, with recommendations intended to help prevent similar tragedies. Highway 99 remained closed without a reopening timeline, as unsafe conditions prolonged the disruption for communities already confronting loss and uncertainty.