Advertisement

One dead, one still ‘unaccounted for’ after Sea to Sky Highway mudslide

Click to play video: 'B.C. windstorm death toll rises to 3'
B.C. windstorm death toll rises to 3
The death toll from Saturday's windstorm on the south coast has now risen to three. The bodies of two people were pulled from the site of a mudslide at Lions Bay that previously closed the Sea-to-Sky Highway for nearly 24 hours. As Grake Ke reports, search and rescue crews made the tragic discovery after searching the site Sunday afternoon – Dec 15, 2024

Search crews have recovered the body of a Lions Bay resident whose home was swept away by a mudslide on Saturday.

The mudslide north of Lions Bay took place during a major windstorm on B.C.’s south coast. It temporarily closed Highway 99, also known as the Sea to Sky Highway, and knocked a home off its foundations.

Crews have been searching the landslide area looking for two missing persons.

“Sadly, on Dec. 15, emergency crews located the body of one of the residents directly involved, who had succumbed to their injuries,” said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. James Grandy.

“Emergency crews are continuing their search this evening for a second person associated with the home who remains unaccounted for.”

Click to play video: 'Coastal B.C. faces major cleanup after wind storm damage and mudslide'
Coastal B.C. faces major cleanup after wind storm damage and mudslide

Highway 99 was closed overnight but has since reopened in both directions. DriveBC reported the road as open around 5 a.m. Sunday, ahead of an estimated 9 a.m. reopening.

Story continues below advertisement

Crews worked overnight to remove a large number of trees and debris from the road.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

RCMP say highway maintenance contractors and the Ministry of Transportation are on scene completing a technical assessment, and crews are expected to remain at the site for “the foreseeable time.”

Drivers caught behind the mudslide posted pictures and video to social media showing the blockage.

Click to play video: 'Wind storm battering B.C. South Coast turns fatal'
Wind storm battering B.C. South Coast turns fatal

North Shore Emergency Management provided lodging and a reception centre in North Vancouver for those stranded south of the slide site.

Whistler also activated an Emergency Reception Centre at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler for displaced travellers.

Sponsored content

AdChoices