BC

Photo: CTV

Four people are still unaccounted for after homes were destroyed by a landslide in BC’s Kootenay region.

Photo: CTV

The slide happened just after noon near Johnson’s Landing, located at the north end of Kootenay Lake. The small community is about an hour’s drive northeast of Kaslo.

Officials with the Central Kootenay Regional District say they do not know if the missing people were home at the time of the slide. Mounties and search and rescue crews from Kaslo and Nelson are on scene.

Witness Richard Ortega told CTV News that nearby residents heard a loud rumbling sound and then saw tonnes of mud and debris crash down into the lake. He said the rubble destroyed one house and damaged two others.

The Kaslo RCMP activated Search and Rescue teams via Emergency Measures BC.

“The RCMP immediately engaged a large number of resources to address the first priority of conducting a rescue of the affected residents. RCMP officers from the Kootenay Boundary Regional Detachment and Kaslo Detachment are on scene with support provided by RCMP Traffic Services, Southeast District Air Services Helicopter from Kelowna, two police service dog teams, Underwater Recovery Dive team", says Cpl Dan Moskaluk

The Nelson and Kaslo Search and Rescue Teams with vessels and two helicopters are also on scene. The Regional District of Central Kootenay RCMP and Emergency Measures BC are closely monitoring additional resource requirements.

As of 3:15 p.m, information indicates that the landslide destroyed three residences.  RCMP officers are at the scene and are conducting an assessment to confirm reports that a small number of residents are now unaccounted for. 

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Photo: CTV

A shot form the air shows one of the destroyed homes