Three Dead, Three Missing After Deadly Alaska Landslide
According to authorities, sixteen-year-old Mara Heller, 44-year-old Timothy Heller, and 36-year-old Beth Heller were killed in a landslide that hit the Zimovia Highway near Wrangell on Monday night, while three more people, 65-year-old Otto Florschutz, 12-year-old Derek Heller, and 11-year-old Kara Heller are still missing. The remains of those killed have been found and sent for a medical examination.
The initial active search has now been changed to a reactive search and the authorities are working on clearing the road of debris and preparing to continue the search if any new information or evidence is found. Despite this change, Governor Mike Dunleavy has issued a disaster declaration in Wrangell in order to expedite relief efforts.
The search efforts have been extensive, with drones, helicopters, and planes; ground teams with K-9 scent detection dogs and trained professionals; and water-based searching with K-9 teams and sonar all being used in the search. Officials have found the remains of 16-year-old Mara, while the others were located by a drone operator and the search for the missing people continues.
According to experts, the debris flow could have been caused by heavy rain, rapid snowmelt, or already saturated soil. The area has been particularly wet in recent days, with more than 3 inches of rain falling around Wrangell in the 24 hours prior to the landslide. On top of that, high winds may have also played a role. The region is known to be at risk for landslides and other natural disasters, and the Governor has made finding the missing individuals a priority.
Our condolences go out to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims, and we hope for a speedy and successful conclusion to the ongoing search efforts. Nature can be a force to be reckoned with, and it’s always important to remain vigilant and be prepared for the worst.
