Three men have been confirmed dead and one remains missing following a devastating mudslide near Lillooet, B.C., according to RCMP. The slide, which occurred on November 15 on Highway 99 (Duffey Lake Road), was triggered by extreme rainfall and severe weather.
B.C. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe reported that one body was recovered Wednesday, followed by two more on Thursday. A fourth man remains unaccounted for despite continued search efforts, which were ultimately halted after all avenues were exhausted.
Earlier in the week, on Monday, the body of a woman was recovered from the slide site, marking the first confirmed fatality from the region’s landslides and flooding.
Search efforts, led by RCMP and rescue teams, have faced major challenges due to dangerous site conditions and ongoing bad weather. Authorities are now working to identify the deceased and notify their families.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families grieving the loss of their loved ones,” said Lapointe in a statement. “This has been an incredibly challenging year for all of us in B.C.”
The B.C. Coroners Service continues to investigate the fatalities and aims to provide recommendations to prevent future tragedies.
Highway 99 remains closed, and there is no timeline for reopening. The area is still unsafe for motorists due to the unstable terrain.
The incident is part of a series of weather-related disasters that have caused widespread disruption across southern B.C., emphasizing the growing impact of extreme climate events on local communities.
