Search crews in British Columbia have recovered three bodies after a massive mudslide near Lillooet, and authorities have ended the active search for one person who remains missing.
The slide struck a stretch of Highway 99 as parts of southern British Columbia were hit by extreme rainfall, flooding, and landslides that caused widespread damage. A woman’s body had already been recovered from another part of the affected area, bringing the confirmed death toll to four.
B.C. RCMP Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet said difficult weather and hazardous terrain created substantial obstacles for investigators and search teams. Crews worked through unstable ground, severe weather, and the risk of further slides. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe said teams continued looking for the remaining missing person through Friday. Officials then called off the active search after concluding that the available options had been exhausted.
The identities of the three deceased men have not been released. Officials are working to formally identify the victims and notify their families before providing further details.
The affected section of Highway 99 remains closed, and motorists cannot travel through the area. The route is an important transportation link in the region, but authorities have not set a firm timetable for reopening it.
The BC Coroners Service is continuing its investigation into the circumstances of the deaths. Officials say the inquiry will also look for lessons that could reduce the risk from similar disasters in the future.
The event unfolded during a broader stretch of severe weather across southern British Columbia, where heavy rain triggered flooding and multiple landslides. Those conditions complicated both the rescue effort and the wider response, and they left communities and drivers cut off from a key corridor through the region. With the search now concluded, attention has shifted to identification, family notification, and the longer work of determining what happened and when the highway can safely reopen.
