At least three dead after landslide in Alaska
A landslide has claimed the lives of at least three people in a remote area in the US state of Alaska. Three others, including two minors, were still missing, as the US broadcaster NBC reported, citing authorities. The landslide occurred on Monday evening after heavy rainfall near the town of Wrangell on the island of the same name in south-east Alaska.
A girl was found dead during an initial search after the accident on Monday, the broadcaster quoted Austin McDaniel, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, as saying. According to him, three houses were hit by the landslide.
On Tuesday, a drone spotted the bodies of two adults who had been recovered, the ministry said, according to the broadcaster. In addition, a woman was also rescued alive on Tuesday and her condition was good. Two teenagers were among the three missing.
Such landslides are a risk in south-east Alaska, as the slopes there are very steep, NBC quoted geologist Barrett Salisbury from the local Department of the Environment as saying. Heavy rain and melting snow increase the danger.
The environment and steep slopes in south-east Alaska contribute to the increased risk of weather-related emergencies like landslides, as Geologist Barrett Salisbury from the local Department of the Environment explained. With the ongoing heavy rainfall and melting snow, such emergencies can lead to significant damages and pose threats to life, as demonstrated by the recent storm that triggered a landslide near Wrangell, resulting in at least three fatalities and several missing persons.
Source: www.dpa.com
