Three men have been confirmed dead and one remains missing after a powerful mudslide struck near Lillooet, British Columbia. The disaster occurred on November 15 along Highway 99, also known as Duffey Lake Road, following several days of continuous rainfall and extreme weather that destabilized the terrain.
B.C. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe reported that the first body was found on Wednesday, with two more discovered the following day. Despite extensive search and rescue operations, the fourth man has not been located, and authorities have suspended the search after exhausting all available resources.
Earlier that same week, on Monday, the body of a woman was found in the same area—marking the first confirmed death from the recent wave of landslides and flooding that have swept across southern British Columbia.
Rescue crews, led by the RCMP and provincial emergency teams, braved dangerous conditions, heavy rain, and unstable ground during their search through the wreckage. Officials are currently working to identify the victims and notify their families.
“This year has brought unimaginable hardship,” Lapointe said in a public statement. “My heart is with the families grieving these sudden, tragic losses.”
The B.C. Coroners Service has launched a full investigation into the incident, with plans to issue future safety recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies. Highway 99 remains closed indefinitely, as the area continues to pose serious risks to drivers due to unstable slopes and loose debris.
This event is one of several weather-related disasters to affect the province in recent months, highlighting the increasing toll of extreme climate events on vulnerable communities across British Columbia.