Three men have been confirmed dead and one is still missing after a devastating mudslide struck near Lillooet, British Columbia. The tragedy unfolded on November 15 along Highway 99, also known as Duffey Lake Road, following days of relentless rainfall and extreme weather conditions that destabilized the terrain.
B.C. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe announced that the first body was recovered on Wednesday, with two more found the following day. Despite intensive efforts by search and rescue teams, the fourth man has not been located, and authorities have since suspended the search after exhausting all available resources.
Earlier that same week, on Monday, the body of a woman was discovered in the same area—marking the first confirmed fatality from the wave of landslides and flooding that have gripped southern British Columbia in recent weeks.
Rescue teams, led by RCMP and provincial emergency crews, battled dangerous terrain, ongoing rainfall, and unstable ground as they searched through the debris. Officials are now working to identify the victims and notify next of kin.
“This year has brought unimaginable hardship,” Lapointe said in a public statement. “My heart goes out to the families mourning these sudden, tragic losses.”
The B.C. Coroners Service has launched a full investigation into the incident, aiming to issue future safety recommendations to help prevent similar tragedies. Highway 99 remains closed indefinitely, as the area continues to pose significant risks to motorists due to unstable slopes and loose debris.
This incident is one of several weather-related disasters to hit the province in recent months, underscoring the growing toll of extreme climate events on vulnerable communities throughout British Columbia.
