BC

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

A landslide struck Johnsons Landing, a tiny hamlet on the shores of Kootenay Lake roughly 70 kilometres northeast of Nelson, B.C., Thursday, July 13, 2012 severely damaging three homes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO- British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

Rainy weather could delay the search for up to four people believed to be buried by a massive landslide in southeastern British Columbia.

Bill Macpherson of the Central Kootenay Regional District says the rain has made the slope unstable for rescue crews, who must now re-evaluate their approach.

At least three homes were engulfed by Thursday's landslide near the hamlet of Johnsons Landing.

A father, his two grown daughters, and a female tourist from Germany have been listed as missing since the slide hit.

The search was delayed Friday until engineers were sure the four-metre-deep pile of mud, rock, and other debris was stable enough for crews to go back in.

The crews have been using heavy equipment to remove mud and logs, and an RCMP dog team is on site.

Searchers were also carrying avalanche beacons for their own safety.

The landslide is blocking the only road into Johnson's Landing, leaving the area accessible only by air or water.

BC Premier Christy Clark has offered condolences to the victim's families.