Recovery operations following a catastrophic mudslide near Lillooet, British Columbia, have recovered three additional bodies this week, raising the confirmed death toll to four. The latest discoveries follow the recovery of a woman’s remains on Monday along the severely damaged section of Highway 99, also known as Duffey Lake Road.
The deadly slide was triggered by an atmospheric river that brought extreme rainfall and widespread flooding across southern B.C. in November 2021. The powerful mudslide buried vehicles and sections of the remote highway, sweeping away motorists in the darkness.
RCMP and specialized search-and-rescue teams worked tirelessly under hazardous conditions, but one man remains unaccounted for. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe announced that all practical search avenues have now been exhausted, leading to the suspension of active recovery efforts at the site. Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet of the RCMP emphasized that adverse weather and dangerously unstable ground made further operations impossible for the safety of personnel.
The affected portion of Duffey Lake Road remains closed to the public indefinitely. The BC Coroners Service is continuing its formal investigation and victim identification process. Lapointe expressed her deepest condolences to the grieving families, noting the profound and repeated impact of this year’s extreme weather disasters on communities across British Columbia. Officials say they are also reviewing long-term mitigation strategies to improve safety along vulnerable mountain highways.
