B.C. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe stated that one body was retrieved on Wednesday, with two additional bodies found on Thursday. A fourth individual remains missing despite ongoing search operations, which were ultimately suspended after all possible avenues were explored.
Earlier in the week, on Monday, the body of a woman was discovered at the slide site, marking the first confirmed death resulting from the region’s landslides and flooding.
Search operations, conducted by the RCMP and rescue teams, have encountered significant obstacles due to perilous site conditions and persistent adverse weather. Authorities are currently working to identify the deceased individuals and inform their families.
“I extend my deepest sympathies to the families mourning the loss of their loved ones,” Lapointe expressed in a statement. “This has been an exceptionally difficult year for all of us in B.C.”
The B.C. Coroners Service is actively investigating the fatalities and intends to offer recommendations to avert future tragedies.
Highway 99 is still closed, with no estimated timeline for its reopening. The region remains hazardous for drivers due to the unstable terrain.
This incident is part of a sequence of weather-related disasters that have led to significant disruption throughout southern B.C., highlighting the increasing effects of extreme climate events on local communities.
