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US landslide: Rising death toll in Washington state disaster | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
At least eight people have been killed by a huge landslide in the north-western US state of Washington. | |
Rescuers pulled five bodies from the debris on Sunday, adding to three found on Saturday. | |
Officials say there are still a number of people registered as missing, but search teams said they had not seen or heard any signs of survivors. | |
The 54m (177ft) deep landslide destroyed 30 houses near the town of Oso, about 90km north of Seattle. | |
Rescue teams have only just been able to properly search the site. | |
It was deemed too dangerous to access the worst-affected areas on Saturday. | |
'Wall of mud' | '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." | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | The area has had problems in the past with unstable land. |