Woman dead after Highway 99 mudslide near Lillooet

RCMP have confirmed a woman’s body was recovered near Lillooet Monday morning during a search across Highway 99 after a mudslide.

The victim has only been identified as being from the Lower Mainland.

The BC Coroners Service is determining the official cause of death.

The search Monday night was suspended due to safety concerns but Pemberton Search and Rescue are back out Tuesday looking for missing people in the area after the mudslide struck several vehicles on the highway.

It’s still unclear how many vehicles were involved in the slide.

“Investigators have received two missing people reports and believe there may have been other occupied vehicles that were lost in the slide,” Sgt. Janelle Shoihet with the BC RCMP said.

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David MacKenzie with Pemberton Search and Rescue says some people were able to get out of their cars on their own but there are still active searches for those trapped in their vehicles or swept away.

Crews plan to start with heavy equipment, then switch to specially trained dogs or dig by hand as they search for vehicles.

Searchers will focus on an area east of Agassiz along Highway 7 and a section of Highway 99, also known as the Duffy Lake Road, between Pemberton and Lillooet.

Anyone who witnessed the mudslide or believes their loved one is missing and has not yet contacted police is asked to contact the Pemberton or Lillooet RCMP detachments.

– With files from The Canadian Press