Three Bodies Recovered After Mudslide on Highway 99 South of Lillooet; Search for Fourth Person Suspended
LILLOOET, British Columbia — Search and recovery teams have located the bodies of three men following a devastating mudslide that struck Highway 99 south of Lillooet last month, while efforts to find a fourth missing individual have been officially suspended after extensive operations, according to the B.C. Coroners Service.
Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe issued a statement on Saturday confirming the recoveries. The landslide occurred on November 15 amid extreme rainfall and severe flooding that affected large parts of southern British Columbia. The slide swept across a section of Duffey Lake Road — the scenic but often hazardous Highway 99 — burying vehicles and leaving four people missing.
On Monday, crews recovered the body of a woman from the debris, marking the first confirmed fatality directly linked to the intense weather system that brought widespread flooding and landslides across the province that weekend. The four individuals had been traveling on the highway when the mudslide struck without warning.
Search teams worked through extremely difficult conditions for days, navigating unstable terrain, heavy debris, and ongoing safety risks. Despite continued efforts on Friday, the fourth man could not be located. Lapointe stated that all viable search avenues have now been exhausted, though authorities will continue internal discussions regarding any potential future actions.
Identification of the three recovered men is underway, with notifications being made to their next of kin. In her statement, Lapointe offered condolences to the affected families.
“I also extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who are now grieving the sudden and unexpected death of their loved one, and to the family of the missing person we have so far been unable to locate,” she said. “This has been an incredibly challenging year for all of us in B.C., and my heart goes out to the numerous families and communities that have endured tragic losses.”
B.C. RCMP Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet highlighted the significant challenges posed by adverse weather and hazardous site conditions, which severely hampered rescue operations. The area remains inaccessible to the public, and there is currently no estimated timeline for reopening Highway 99 to regular traffic.
The B.C. Coroners Service will conduct a full investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The inquiry aims to establish a public record of the events and, where appropriate, provide recommendations to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
This incident adds to a growing list of weather-related disasters that have impacted British Columbia this year. Landslides and flooding have repeatedly disrupted communities, damaged infrastructure, and claimed lives across the region, testing the resilience of residents and emergency services alike during what has been described as an exceptionally difficult period for the province.
