Colorado Mudslide Still Unstable, Hampering Search

Story by the Associated Press; curated by Oliver Darcy.

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COLLBRAN, Colo. (AP) — Crews are searching the bottom edge of a massive mudslide in western Colorado for three men who went missing after checking on damage from an initial slide.

The men haven't been heard from since a half-mile wide piece of ridge, saturated by heavy rain, collapsed Sunday and sent mud sliding for 3 miles.

One of the 1st photos showing the Mesa County Mud Slide near Collbran area. Thanks @PabloSpencer for letting us use pic.twitter.com/ArJuXy0NC5

— 7NEWS Denver Channel (@DenverChannel) May 26, 2014

Sheriff Stan Hillkey said the search has been hampered because only the lower third of the slide is stable. At the edges there, the mud is 20 to 30 feet deep. It's believed to be several hundred feet deep in some places.

Hillkey says everyone is praying for a miracle but said no signs of the men or their truck have been found.

He has consulted with the sheriff who responded to March's mudslide in Washington State for advice on how to handle the search.

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