Panic in Alaska as deadly landslide kills one and triggers evacuations across the state
A massive landslide in Alaska killed one person and injured three others, prompting a mandatory evacuation.
Several homes, businesses and roads were destroyed by the landslide in the coastal city of Ketchikan, when rocks and debris fell down a hillside around 4 p.m. Sunday.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy declared a state of emergency for Ketchikan, while Mayor Rodney Dial and Mayor Dave Kiffer declared separate states of emergency.
Images show the devastation in the town of 14,000, with trees crashing into houses on the hillside and power lines falling on cars.
“In my 65 years in Ketchikan, I have never seen a landslide of this magnitude. With the landslides that we have seen in the region, there is clearly a region-wide problem that we need to try to understand with the support of our state geologist,” Kiffer said.
One person was killed and three people were injured in a landslide in the coastal city of Ketchikan, Alaska, on Sunday.
Images show the devastation in the small town, with trees thrown against houses
Three people were taken to Ketchikan Medical Center after the landslide and one person was found dead.
Two victims were taken to hospital, one was treated and released.
“Friends, it is with heavy hearts that we report that a landslide in the city has claimed one life, caused multiple injuries, damaged homes and had a major impact on our community,” Dial said.
A mandatory evacuation was ordered for residents of Third Avenue and nearby streets, while a shelter was set up at Ketchikan High School.
Ketchikan has a population of 14,000 and is known as the salmon capital of the world
Several homes, businesses and roads were destroyed when rocks and debris fell from a hillside around 4 p.m. Sunday
Electrical wires fell on cars and trees fell through houses
South of the original landslide location, a potential area for a secondary landslide was identified and emergency services were on standby.
Power was restored to some affected areas by 8:15 p.m. Other areas will continue to be disconnected until the landslide is cleared and broken electricity poles are replaced, the district and city said in a joint statement.
Dunleavy said a Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Response specialist and personnel from the federal Department of Transportation will travel to Ketchikan on Monday.
A mandatory evacuation was ordered for residents of Third Avenue and nearby streets
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has declared a state of emergency for Ketchikan, while the borough’s mayor and city council have declared separate states of emergency
Damaged roads and fallen trees remain after the deadly landslide
“I have directed state agencies to commit all resources and personnel to the response,” Dunleavy said, noting that the city received assistance from the State Emergency Operations Center.
City and district facilities, including the White Cliff Building, City Hall, city offices and KPU public offices, are closed on Mondays.
Ketchikan is known as the salmon capital of the world and is only accessible by plane or boat.