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Three men missing after 'unbelievably big' Colorado mudslide Three men missing after 'unbelievably big' Colorado mudslide
(35 minutes later)
Three men are missing after a four-mile-long mudslide struck rural Colorado. One witness said the slide sounded like a "freight train".Three men are missing after a four-mile-long mudslide struck rural Colorado. One witness said the slide sounded like a "freight train".
"This slide is unbelievably big," Lieutenant Phil Stratton of Mesa county sheriff's office said on Sunday, according to the office's blog."This slide is unbelievably big," Lieutenant Phil Stratton of Mesa county sheriff's office said on Sunday, according to the office's blog.
The sheriff's office said it was first notified of the slide and missing men around 6.15pm on Sunday, after a day of heavy rain.The sheriff's office said it was first notified of the slide and missing men around 6.15pm on Sunday, after a day of heavy rain.
Officials responded to the area of Vega Reservoir and the Grand Mesa. The area is 11 miles outside of the town of Collbran, which has a population of several hundred, and 40 miles east of Grand Junction.Officials responded to the area of Vega Reservoir and the Grand Mesa. The area is 11 miles outside of the town of Collbran, which has a population of several hundred, and 40 miles east of Grand Junction.
No damage was reported to structures in the remote area.No damage was reported to structures in the remote area.
The slide is two miles wide and 250ft deep in many places, authorities said. An entire ridge is believed to have fallen Sunday, shifting another 20ft overnight. Authorities said on Monday the slide remained "very unstable".The slide is two miles wide and 250ft deep in many places, authorities said. An entire ridge is believed to have fallen Sunday, shifting another 20ft overnight. Authorities said on Monday the slide remained "very unstable".
Pic of massive mudslide near Collbran in Mesa County. Probably more than 10 miles away and still looks huge. #9News pic.twitter.com/nEOWGCNFYR From @DenverChannel: Photo by @PabloSpencer shows the Mesa County Mud Slide near Collbran, Colorado pic.twitter.com/KShba4H3m3
Around 50 workers were conducting search and rescue operations, entering the slide from each side, on Monday afternoon.Around 50 workers were conducting search and rescue operations, entering the slide from each side, on Monday afternoon.
The missing men are believed to be from the area. Officials said the three men went to check on disrupted irrigation water, and then to "check on the slide", according to a statement from Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hinkley. Officials said the three men went to check on an irrigation disruption, and then to "check on the slide", according to a statement from the Mesa county sheriff, Stan Hinkley. Officials believe the three men may have then been caught in a second slide. The men are not believed to be carrying cellphones.
Officials believe a second slide then occurred, and that the three may have been caught in it. The men are not believed to be carrying cellphones. The missing men are believed to be from the area. The Mesa county sheriff's office has not released the identities of the men.
Colbran Marshall calls #mudslide "cataclysmic" - "a sea of mud and dirt." #MCMudslide. Mesa County Sheriff says they are "praying for a miracle" in the search for 3 people missing. Went up to check after 1st slide.
According to a Denver Post reporter on-scene, the men are related and from a longtime area ranch family. The identities of the three men have not been released.
Roadblocks were set up at Salt Creek Road and the intersection of Highway 330 overnight, but authorities said no major roads were affected by the slide. Several gas wells in the area have been shut down.Roadblocks were set up at Salt Creek Road and the intersection of Highway 330 overnight, but authorities said no major roads were affected by the slide. Several gas wells in the area have been shut down.
There is no cellphone service at the site of the slide, which the sheriff's office said could delay updates.There is no cellphone service at the site of the slide, which the sheriff's office said could delay updates.
A unified command of local authorities was established on Sunday, including the Mesa county sheriff's office, Plateau Valley fire department, Mesa county road and bridge and Mesa county search and rescue control.A unified command of local authorities was established on Sunday, including the Mesa county sheriff's office, Plateau Valley fire department, Mesa county road and bridge and Mesa county search and rescue control.