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Three killed, 18 missing by landslide in Washington state | |
(about 17 hours later) | |
At least three people have been killed and 18 are missing in a huge landslide in the north-western US state of Washington, officials say. | |
The landslide injured seven people, destroyed 30 houses and covered a road near the town of Oso, about 90km (55 miles) north of Seattle. | |
It was at least 41m (135ft) wide and 54m deep, local authorities said. | It was at least 41m (135ft) wide and 54m deep, local authorities said. |
They say that two people were killed at the scene and one died in hospital. The injured included a six-month-old boy. | They say that two people were killed at the scene and one died in hospital. The injured included a six-month-old boy. |
'Wall of mud' | |
An eyewitness told the Daily Herald that he was driving on the road and had to quickly brake to avoid the mudslide. | An eyewitness told the Daily Herald that he was driving on the road and had to quickly brake to avoid the mudslide. |
"I just saw the darkness coming across the road. Everything was gone in three seconds,'' Paulo Falcao told the newspaper. | "I just saw the darkness coming across the road. Everything was gone in three seconds,'' Paulo Falcao told the newspaper. |
Robin Youngblood, another witness, told the Seattle Times: "All of a sudden thee was a wall of mud. Then it hit and we were rolling. The house was in sticks. We were buried under things, and we dug ourselves out." | |
Residents reported hearing cries from those trapped, but local fire chief Travis Hots said the dangerous conditions were hampering the rescue effort. | |
Search-and-rescue help came from across the state, including the Washington State Patrol and the Army Corps of Engineers. | Search-and-rescue help came from across the state, including the Washington State Patrol and the Army Corps of Engineers. |
The landslide cut off the city of Darrington and clogged the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, prompting fears of severe flooding downstream if the build-up of water behind the debris breaks through suddenly. | |
The authorities say the landslide was caused by recent heavy rain. | |
More rain is expected in parts of Washington on Sunday, and some people have been advised to move to higher ground. | More rain is expected in parts of Washington on Sunday, and some people have been advised to move to higher ground. |
The area has had problems in the past with unstable land. |