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Rescue operation continues overnight after fatal Washington landslide Eighteen people missing after fatal Washington landslide
(about 3 hours later)
After hearing voices pleading for help, rescuers were conducting an overnight search for survivors from a massive mudslide in Washington state that killed at least three people and forced evacuations because of fears of severe flooding. About 18 people are still unaccounted for after a massive mudslide in rural northwest Washington state killed at least three people and forced evacuations because of fears of flooding, authorities said on Sunday.
The slide of mud, trees and rocks happened about 11am on Saturday. Several people – including an infant – were critically injured and at least six houses were destroyed. Snohomish County fire district 21 chief, Travis Hots, said at a news briefing that "we suspect that people are out there, but it's far too dangerous to get responders out there on that mudflow".
The Snohomish county fire district 21 chief Travis Hots said at a news briefing late on Saturday that searchers were not giving up on finding more people alive. Searchers in helicopters will be flying over the area of the one-square-mile mudslide on Sunday to find people who may have been able to get out on their own, as well as look for other signs of life. Authorities are also trying to determine how to get responders on the ground safely, Hots said, describing mudflow as "like quicksand”.
"We have people who are yelling for our help, and we are going to take extreme risks," Hots said. Officials described the deadly slide as "a big wall of mud and debris" that blocked about a mile of State Route 530 near the town of Oso, about 55 miles north of Seattle. It was reported about 60ft deep in some areas.
It was not clear how many people might still be trapped – or if more bodies might be discovered. Several people including an infant were critically injured and as many as 30 houses were destroyed. The slide wiped out one neighborhood, where there were about 28 to 30 homes, authorities said.
"This is still a rescue mission until we determine otherwise," Hots said. "We don't have a firm idea of how many people are out there." Hots said the number of missing is fluid and could change because some people may have been in cars and on roads when the slide hit just before 11am on Saturday.
Shari Ireton, spokesperson for the Snohomish county sheriff's office, said rescuers were using thermal imaging cameras to help try to find people. The mud was so thick and deep that searchers turned back late on Saturday, after attempting to reach an area where voices were heard crying for help. Rescuers couldn't hear any signs of life once they got closer and the decision was made to back out due to safety reasons, Hots said.
The slide blocked the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, which prompted an evacuation notice because water was rising rapidly behind the debris. Authorities worried about severe downstream flooding if water suddenly broke through the blockage. The slide blocked the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, which prompted an evacuation notice because water was rising rapidly behind the debris. Authorities worried about severe downstream flooding if water suddenly broke through the debris. Authorities said on Sunday that residents could return home during daylight hours.
The landslide also completely covered State Route 530 near the town of Oso, about 55 miles north of Seattle. It was at least 135 feet wide and 180 feet deep and hit just before 11am, Snohomish county authorities said. The Snohomish County sheriff's office reported that two people had been killed at the scene. Authorities later said one of the people who had been rescued died at a hospital.
The Snohomish county sheriff's office reported that two people had been killed at the scene. Authorities later said one of the people who was rescued died at a hospital. A six-month-old boy and an 81-year-old man remained in critical condition on Sunday morning at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg said two men, ages 37 and 58, were in serious condition, while a 25-year-old woman was upgraded to satisfactory condition.
The injured included a six-month-old boy, who was in critical condition at Harborview medical centre in Seattle. A hospital spokeswoman, Susan Gregg, said two other victims were in critical condition — an 81-year-old man and a 37-year-old man — while a 58-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were in serious condition. Five of the injured were taken to Cascade Valley Hospital in Arlington, and one has been treated and released, hospital spokeswoman Jennifer Egger said. She did not know the condition of the others.
Five of the injured were brought to Cascade Valley hospital in Arlington, and one has already been treated and released, said a hospital spokeswoman, Jennifer Egger. She did not know the condition of the others. The American Red Cross set up at the hospital, and evacuation shelters were created at Post Middle School in Arlington and the Darrington Community Center. One eyewitness told the Daily Herald that he was driving on the roadway and had to quickly brake to avoid the mudslide.
The American Red Cross set up at the hospital, and evacuation shelters were created at Post middle school in Arlington and the Darrington community centre.
One eyewitness told the Daily Herald that he was driving on the roadway 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.
Search-and-rescue help came from around the region, plus the Washington state patrol and the army corps of engineers. Search-and-rescue help came from around the region, plus the Washington State Patrol and the army corps of engineers. More than 100 rescuers were at the scene.
Hots said crews heard voices late Saturday night on the eastern edge of the debris field. The Snohomish county sheriff, Ty Trenary, said "we have rescuers on the ground on both sides of the slide who are going to be there all night, we're combing through the debris field on the ground trying to rescue people". The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for Snohomish County through Sunday afternoon.
Air operations to aid rescuers were suspended, but authorities said they would resume at first light on Sunday. Ireton also said the number of destroyed homes was expected to increase when crews had more time to assess the scene. Washington Governor Jay Inslee also proclaimed a state of emergency. He planned to visit the scene on Sunday.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for Snohomish county until Sunday afternoon. Authorities believe the slide was caused by ground water saturation from recent heavy rainfall. John Pennington from the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management said the area has a history of unstable land. He said a slide also happened there in 2006. Pennington said Saturday's slide happened without warning.
People who live in the North Fork's flood plain, from the small communities of Oso to Stanwood, were urged to flee to higher ground. "This slide came out of nowhere," he said.
Forecasters warned that some flooding was also possible north of the slide area. The Weather Service said "catastrophic flooding" was unlikely downstream, but authorities were taking no chances and urged people to leave.
The governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, also proclaimed a state of emergency.
Bart Treece, spokesman for the Washington state department of transportation, said he did not know how long the two-lane rural road will be closed because of the slide. Drivers were advised to find another way to get between Darrington and Arlington, he said.
Authorities believe the slide was caused by ground water saturation from recent heavy rainfall. John Pennington from the Snohomish county department of emergency management said the area has a history of unstable land. He said a slide also happened there in 2006.
Pennington said the most recent incident happened without warning. "This slide came out of nowhere," he said.