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Washington mudslide death toll to rise 'substantially' | Washington mudslide death toll to rise 'substantially' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The number of fatalities in a mudslide in Washington state will rise "substantially" in the next two days, authorities say. | The number of fatalities in a mudslide in Washington state will rise "substantially" in the next two days, authorities say. |
Seventeen bodies have been recovered and at least one more has been found but not yet retrieved. | |
Some 90 people remain missing after the 177ft (54m) wall of mud hit the town of Oso, north of Seattle on Saturday. | |
Hopes of discovering any more survivors have faded as day seven of the search ended on Friday. | |
"I believe that the crews are finding bodies in the field," Snohomish County executive director Gary Haakenson told reporters on Friday evening. "It's a very, very slow process." | |
He said the conditions at the one sq-mile site had continued to deteriorate, soaked by days of heavy rain that had turned the already dangerous debris field into "quicksand". | |
"I cannot possibly tell you how long this will last or when they will find more bodies," he said. "We always want to hold out hope but I think at some point we have to expect the worst." | |
'Official' number | |
Mr Haakenson said it had become increasingly difficult to identify the bodies. | |
And he declined to address previous statements from officials that searchers had found at least eight other bodies but been unable to retrieve them. | |
"The number I have given you is the number," he said. | |
Earlier, local fire chief Travis Hots said the death toll would increase substantially within the next 24-28 hours as the medical examiner catches up with the recovery effort. | |
Authorities have so far identified five victims: Christina Jefferds, 45; Stephen Neal, 55; Linda McPherson, 69; Kaylee Spillers, 5; William Welsh, 66. | Authorities have so far identified five victims: Christina Jefferds, 45; Stephen Neal, 55; Linda McPherson, 69; Kaylee Spillers, 5; William Welsh, 66. |
Ms Jefferds, who the Seattle Times reports was a dental office manager, died of blunt impact injuries, says the medical examiner. | Ms Jefferds, who the Seattle Times reports was a dental office manager, died of blunt impact injuries, says the medical examiner. |
Family members have told local media that searchers also discovered the body of Ms Jefferds's four-month-old granddaughter, Sanoah Violet Huestis, whom she had been babysitting at the time of the mudslide. | Family members have told local media that searchers also discovered the body of Ms Jefferds's four-month-old granddaughter, Sanoah Violet Huestis, whom she had been babysitting at the time of the mudslide. |
Died together | Died together |
On Thursday, Nichole Webb Rivera, 39, told the BBC the search continued for her family members who have not been heard from since Saturday. | |
Ms Rivera's daughter Delaney Webb, 20, and her fiance Alan Bejvl were visiting Ms Rivera's parents for the weekend when disaster truck. | Ms Rivera's daughter Delaney Webb, 20, and her fiance Alan Bejvl were visiting Ms Rivera's parents for the weekend when disaster truck. |
Ms Webb and Mr Bejvl planned to wed on 16 August at Ms Rivera's parents home on the river, Ms Rivera said. | |
Her parents, Thom and Marcy Satterlee, were married 41 years and had lived in the area for three decades. | Her parents, Thom and Marcy Satterlee, were married 41 years and had lived in the area for three decades. |
"If they could choose a way to go out, it would be like that, really fast and in the place they loved. Together," she said. | "If they could choose a way to go out, it would be like that, really fast and in the place they loved. Together," she said. |
Survivors were last pulled from the mud on Saturday. | |
The mudslide destroyed about 30 houses, temporarily damming a river and leaving a square mile field of muck and debris in its wake. | |
The debris field is pocked with deep pits of water and strewn with sharp and dangerous wreckage, including fallen trees, propane and septic tanks, destroyed vehicles and smashed timber. | |