A devastating mudslide near Lillooet, British Columbia, has left four people confirmed dead and one person still missing after a massive landslide slammed into Highway 99, also known as Duffey Lake Road. The tragedy unfolded after intense rainfall from a powerful atmospheric river system triggered unstable slopes to collapse, sending mud, rocks, trees, and debris crashing onto the roadway.
The once scenic route, known for its mountain views and winding roads, has now become the center of one of the province’s most heartbreaking disasters this year. Search and recovery teams have worked for days in dangerous conditions, battling unstable ground, shifting debris, and continued bad weather.
Officials confirmed that the body of a woman was first recovered earlier in the week. In the following days, three more victims—identified as men—were found buried deep within the debris field. Authorities say one person remains unaccounted for, but active search operations have been paused due to extreme safety risks.
Emergency crews, including RCMP officers, rescue specialists, canine teams, and heavy equipment operators, have described the area as highly unstable. Every movement of earth creates the risk of another collapse, making recovery efforts slow and dangerous.
British Columbia Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe expressed condolences to the families affected, calling the incident another painful reminder of the province’s growing battle with extreme weather events. Over the past year, British Columbia has already faced deadly floods, heatwaves, wildfires, and landslides.
“This has been an extraordinarily difficult year for many families across the province,” officials said.
The mudslide has also caused major transportation disruption. Highway 99 remains completely closed in the affected area, cutting off a key route between the Lower Mainland and interior communities. Engineers are still assessing slope stability before cleanup and reopening can begin, and no timeline has been given.
For local residents and businesses, the closure is more than an inconvenience—it affects supply chains, emergency travel, and daily life.
Experts believe the landslide was caused by saturated soil after days of heavy rainfall weakened the mountainside above the highway. When the slope failed, it moved with such speed and force that drivers likely had little chance to escape.
As formal search efforts pause, investigators continue working to identify victims and review whether stronger warning systems or slope monitoring could help prevent future tragedies.
Across the province, communities are mourning the lives lost while hoping the missing person can still be found. Candles, flowers, and tributes have begun appearing online and in nearby towns as residents grieve together.
For British Columbia, the Lillooet mudslide will be remembered as a tragic moment that exposed both the destructive force of nature and the courage of the responders who risked everything to help.
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