Authorities in British Columbia have confirmed that the bodies of three men have been recovered following a devastating mudslide near Lillooet, while one person remains missing. The recovery operations, led by the RCMP and the B.C. Coroners Service, took place over several days this week amid dangerous weather and terrain conditions.
According to Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe, one body was recovered on Wednesday and two more on Thursday. Earlier in the week, the body of a woman had also been found at the site, marking the first confirmed fatality from the series of landslides and flooding caused by last weekend’s extreme rainfall across southern B.C. Despite exhaustive efforts, search teams were unable to locate the fourth missing person, and operations have now been concluded.
Lapointe expressed her condolences to the grieving families, calling the losses “sudden and unexpected.” She also acknowledged the ongoing hardships faced by communities across the province this year, promising that the Coroners Service will continue to review the circumstances and recommend safety measures to prevent similar tragedies.
The slide occurred on November 15 along Highway 99 (Duffey Lake Road), a mountainous stretch often impacted by heavy rain and instability. Law enforcement has urged the public to avoid the area, which remains closed to motorists until it is deemed safe. The tragedy underscores the growing toll of extreme weather events in the region — and the enduring resilience of those left behind to rebuild.
