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Tag: Oso

  • Mudslide Death Toll In Washington Rises To 37

    The March 22 mudslide that happened in the Cascade foothills of Washington state continues to devastate. After a heavy rain, the hillside collapsed above Stillaguamish River. It has recently been reported that the official death count has risen to 37 after search representatives located another person amidst the mud and debris. Tragically, nobody has been pulled alive from the rubble since the initial search and rescue efforts.

    According to spokesman Lars Erickson the damage is immeasurable. “We don’t know how extensive the damage is. There are a lot of variables; timing could easily change significantly. We are working to get permission from property owners of that road to find a way to have some kind of limited local access to ease detour strains on communities there,” he said.

    The mudslide impacted roughly a mile of state Highway 530, which affects the direct route between the town of Darrington (that has a population of 1,300) and Interstate 5. According to representatives from the Department of Transportation, the process of clearing mud and other debris from the area could take up to three months.

    Search and rescue efforts continue as there are still seven people presently classified as missing. President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Oso sometime next week to meet with survivors, family members who have lost loved ones, and search-and-rescue workers who have been devoted to recovery efforts. Survivors of the horrific event have been devoted to personal recovery efforts while still remembering those who lost their lives due to the tragedy.

    Image Via Wikimedia Commons And Courtesy Of SPC Matthew Sissel

  • Oso Washington Landslide: Number Of Casualties Raised To 14

    Fourteen people have been confirmed dead at the giant landslide that occurred last Saturday at the Darrington and Oso areas of Washington, after six more bodies have been discovered. However, the identities still need to be verified.

    Aside from the confirmed dead, many residents were also injured and more than 100 properties were destroyed. A mile-long stretch of land in Route 530 was also blocked due to debris.

    The towns were hit by a 1-square mile slide that tore through the rural area 55 miles northeast of Seattle. The landslide was caused by a hillside that collapsed after being soaked in rain.

    Snohomish County Fire District 21’s Chief, Travis Hots, says that “the situation is grim” and that they have not found anybody alive since Saturday.

    On Monday, 108 names of missing and unaccounted for have been submitted to emergency officials. Most of the people missing are residents, construction workers, and people driving by.

    The list of missing people contains detailed information, but many are also vague, with some descriptions saying, “I met him once. I think he lived over there.”

    Officials are encouraging people to call a Snohomish County hotline so they can update their database.

    There are over 100 emergency responders at the scene, but additional state and federal resources like technical rescue experts and search dogs are joining to help the recovery efforts. The Washington State Department of Transportation is sending heavy equipment to clear the mud.

    President Barack Obama ordered US government assistance after signing an emergency declaration.

    The search for victims continued on Monday as quicksand-like conditions affected relief works on Sunday. Some workers had to be pulled to safety as the mud reached the armpits. Movement along a stretch of earth near the slide area was also detected.

    The Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management remains optimistic, and believes that the number of people missing would “drop dramatically.”

    Aerial view of Oso landslide

    Image via Twitter