Four Missing From British Columbia Town With Population of Only 35 After Massive Landslide
- Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:42pm by
Liz Klimas
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Rescue teams in the small community of Johnson’s Landing in British Columbia — population only 35 — are on the hunt for four missing people after an avalanche rolled through the town and destroyed three homes.
Image of the landslide from overhead. (Photo: Bob Keating/CBC)
The Vancouver Sun reports Rachel Rozzoni’s account of the landslide that occurred on Thursday:
Rozzoni thought the strange, rumbling sound above her home in tiny Johnsons Landing on Kootenay Lake was the sound of heavy equipment that had fallen over at a home where some trees were being cut down.
Then the windows and glasses in the house started shaking.
The rumbling turned into a massive landslide that officials say has destroyed at least three houses in the southern Interior community and led to a search for four possible victims who may be buried in the debris.
“I’m in my house watching old-growth trees and boulders the size of my house flying past. And then going, ‘Oh God, if it comes any closer we are all going to die,’” Rozzoni said Thursday evening.
“And then I’m looking down at my neighbour’s house and it’s covered in rubble and only the chimney is sticking out. And the other half of the house is down further, and just part of it sticking out.”
One of three homes buried in the muck. (Photo: CTV/BC/HO; Canadian Press via Vancouver Sun)
Rozzoni described the landslides destruction as the size of several football fields. Richard Ortega was reported as saying the event only lasted 45 seconds.
Watch this raw footage of the destruction:
The hunt for the missing persons was called off Thursday night due to volatile conditions of the land but resumed Friday morning. CBC News reports helicopters, search dogs, underwater recovery divers, a landslide expert and geotechnician were helping in the search and assessment of the landslide.
“I think everybody is realistic that the odds of survivability for the individuals that were in the direct path [of the landslide] …are not that great,” said RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk to CBC News. “So realistically, we are looking at possibly a recovery operation. But again, we never lose hope.”
Still, Lisa Taylor, 22, said some of her best friends are among those missing and she hopes there “is a chance they are still alive.”
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Southernsoul
Posted on July 15, 2012 at 2:24pm35 people is not a town. That’s breakfast rush at McDonalds.
Report Post »nakedbootleg
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 7:34pmHere’s a clip from a boater on the water as the slide hits the shoreline. Note a group of boaters gets out just in time.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=046_1342224638
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 10:39am…
Report Post »I pray, that the four missing are found alive.
SilentReader
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 8:22amUnbelievable! You’ve got to wonder what caused this.
My prayers go out to those effected by this calamity.
Report Post »4xeverything
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 1:49pmThese landslides are caused by the soft clay known as leda clay (aka quick clay). Tens of thousands of years ago Lake Champlain was the Champlain Sea. The bottom of the Champlain Sea was made up of a thick layer of clay. During the last ice age an enormous glacier moved south over this area and picked up the clay. It then deposited the clay throughout Canada and the northern US. This glacier also cut out what is known as the Ohio River Valley (where I live), as well as many other geological features we know today (The Great Lake basins). The leda clay is held together by ancient salt chrystals. Rain water dilutes the bond of the salt over time and when they have been diluted enough they give way causing liquifaction.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 7:22pm4XEVERYTHING
Bravo! good job………………
Report Post »4xeverything
Posted on July 15, 2012 at 10:06amThanks STOIC, I try.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on July 15, 2012 at 11:54amI love the experts who bless us with their knowledge. Bless your little heart. Lets leave the armchair quarterbacking for football please. You don’t know what caused this anymore than I do.
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 9:52pmThat is horrible and must have been nightmarish,God bless thier souls.
Report Post »4xeverything
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 1:50pmAmen
Report Post »wordweaver
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 9:41pmLiz, why did you use the word “avalanche” in your lead paragraph when you are writing about a landslide? Words are important.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 7:25pmPerhaps she is not aware of the difference between snow and dirt?
Report Post »Bronco II
Posted on July 13, 2012 at 9:22pmMy thoughts and prayers and I believe GOD exist and He does still control and does show us HIS hand with miracles still today so I’m very hopeful there will be some surviers and my prayers with those IF they lost friends or loved ones that GOD touches your hearts with HIS love and HE knows your grief and will be with you through it all.
Report Post »AmazingGrace8
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 10:50amAmen…your comments.
Report Post »Having a community at the base of a mountain should give one “pause” to build there.
I pray all citizens of this community had a close and personal relationship with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
COFemale
Posted on July 15, 2012 at 12:07pmPerhaps this phrase should be added to the ten things Christians shouldn’t say list> “I pray all citizens of this community had a close and personal relationship with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
And if they didn’t then what? They deserved the mudslide? If they died, then it is okay because they didn’t believe in Christ? Don’t get me wrong, I believe in Christ, but sometimes some of us can say the dumbest things at the WRONG time.
Lets pray for the community to recover and to find solace with the Lord, if they so chose.
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