14 DAY TRIAL // A massive landslide struck Washington State on March 22, following heavy rain in the area, and leveled everything within its path.
Authorities declared a state of emergency and were forced to evacuate homes in Oso community, Snohomish County, about 55 miles (90 kilometers) north of Seattle.
The torrent of mud swept away homes, cars and even people. It blocked state Route 530 and temporarily dammed the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River. Excluding landslides caused by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes or dam collapses, this is the deadliest single landslide event in United States history. On April 3, the mudslide was declared a major disaster by President Barack Obama.
“The devastation is just unrelenting and awesome. There really is no stick standing in the path of the slide. And it is a reminder that we live among the powerful forces of nature,” Washington Governor Jay Inslee said, according to New York Daily News.
After the catastrophic mudslide, which measured one square-mile (2.58-km) and destroyed up to 30 houses in the area, officials started a rescue operation. However, the search for survivors went on very slow, as rescuers had to scour through mud and debris.
Almost two weeks after the tragedy, recovery efforts and the tedious process of identifying remains continue, as floodwaters at the site are receding, allowing emergency crews to extend their search to areas that were previously impossible to reach.
Around 13 people are still missing, and the Oso landslide death toll rose to 30. Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed the number and has formally identified 27 of the people killed in the mudslide. Their ages range from 4 months (Sonoah Heustis) to 71 years (Lewis F. Vandenburg), according to Komo News.
Medical Examiner’s office personnel are working to identify the remains of three other individuals discovered among the debris.
One mystery troubled medical examiners on Wednesday, as one set of remains didn't fit with any of the descriptions on the missing persons list. What they know for sure is that the person is a male, but his remains give no clue as to who he was. They say that the man's gold teeth were the only distinctive feature they could trace.
More than 100 first responders from Snohomish and surrounding counties were dispatched to assist with medical aid and search-and-rescue efforts.
Local authorities estimate the damage caused by the heavy mudslide at about $10 million (€7.29 million).