Forbes StaffThe Alaska landslide has also injured 3 in Ketchikan, which is a popular cruise ship stop.
On Sunday, a deadly landslide occurred in Alaska, which shook everyone. A landslide cut a path down a steep, thickly forested hillside and crashed into many homes in Ketchikan. The deadly landslide has so far killed one person and has also injured three people in the disaster that struck mountainous southeast Alaska.
Evacuation of nearby homes.
The landslide on Sunday prompted a mandatory evacuation of nearby homes in Ketchikan, a popular cruise ship stop along the famed Inside Passage in the Alaska panhandle. On Monday, the slope remained unstable, and authorities said that state and local geologists were arriving to assess the area for further potential landslides.
Emergency situation in Ketchikan.
An emergency has occurred in the city of Revillagigedo Island, Alaska, which has killed one person, injured three, and caused widespread property damage. This has prompted evacuations and emergency declarations by officials. Mayor of Ketchikan, Dave Kiffer, said, “In my 65 years in Ketchikan, I have never seen a slide of this magnitude. With the slides we have seen across the region, there is clearly a region-wide issue that we need to try to understand with the support of our State geologist.” He added that the loss of life was “heartbreaking, and my heart goes out to those who lost their homes.”
The weather since Monday in Ketchikan.
The landslide followed a weekend bout of rain amidst an unusually dry August in the city, said a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Juneau, Andrew Park. Since Monday, the weather has said that Ketchikan has received about 2.6 inches of rain in about 36 hours, though rainfall totals at higher elevations nearby ranged from 5 to 9 inches.
Two victims of the landslides were admitted to the hospital, and one was treated and released. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has declared an emergency for Ketchikan, and Kiffer and Ketchikan Gateway Borough Mayor Rodney Dial have issued a separate emergency declaration. A shelter was set up at Ketchikan High School.
