The bodies of three men have been recovered following a devastating mudslide near Lillooet, B.C., while search efforts continue for a fourth man still missing, according to the RCMP. The disaster struck earlier this week after days of relentless rainfall triggered multiple landslides across southern British Columbia.On Wednesday, search crews located the first male victim, and two additional bodies were discovered on Thursday, confirmed B.C. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe in a statement released Saturday. Recovery teams have been working under dangerous and unstable conditions as they navigate thick mud, debris, and washed-out terrain.
Efforts to locate the fourth missing man continued on Friday but were unsuccessful. Authorities say crews are facing treacherous ground conditions, making progress slow and risky. Search operations are expected to resume once it is deemed safe for recovery teams to return.
Earlier in the week, the body of a woman was also recovered from the same slide area, marking the first confirmed fatality linked to the region’s severe flooding and mudslides. The woman’s death, along with the three men recovered later, brings the known death toll from the event to four.
Officials say the landslides and flooding were triggered by extreme rainfall that battered southern B.C. last weekend, leading to road closures, power outages, and several communities being cut off from emergency services.
Provincial authorities have issued warnings urging residents to avoid affected areas and remain vigilant for potential ground movement as rain continues in some regions.
Emergency response teams, including RCMP, firefighters, and volunteer rescuers, have been working around the clock to provide aid and support to impacted families.
The province has promised a full investigation into the events leading up to the slide, while recovery efforts continue amid challenging conditions and widespread grief.