Current:Home > Contact4th victim in Alaska landslide is 11-year-old girl; 2 people still missing, officials say -WealthDrive Solutions
4th victim in Alaska landslide is 11-year-old girl; 2 people still missing, officials say
View
Date:2025-04-25 00:24:36
Authorities recovered the body of 11-year-old Kara Heller Saturday night from debris left behind by a massive landslide in southeast Alaska that killed three other people and left two others missing, according to the Associated Press.
Heller is the fourth person confirmed killed by last Monday's landslide. The others were the girl's parents, Timothy Heller, 44, and Beth Heller, 36, and her sister Mara Heller, 16.
Rescue crews found Mara's body in the initial search, and the bodies of Timothy and Beth were found late Tuesday by a drone operator.
Search crews are looking for a third child still missing from the Heller family, Derek, 12, and neighbor Otto Florschutz, 65, the Alaska Department of Public Safety told the Associated Press.
Alaska State Troopers said in a statement last Tuesday that three homes were in the direct path of the disaster around 8:50 p.m. local time Monday near Wrangell, a fishing community with just over 2,000 residents about 155 miles southeast of Juneau.
Alaska landslide:Landslide leaves 3 dead and trail of damage in remote community of Wrangell, Alaska
Alaska landslide: search and rescue efforts
First responders were on the scenes searching for survivors, the troopers said. Authorities urged residents to contact local police if they know someone who is missing.
The landslide cut off access and power to about 75 homes, the state emergency management office said, and boats have been taking residents from the cut-off area to an unaffected part of town.
Photos posted on social media showed barren earth near the top of the mountain all the way down to the Pacific Ocean and remnants of destroyed homes.
Aaron Jacobs, a hydrologist and meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Juneau, told the Associated Press Wrangell received nearly 2 inches of rain from 1 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and wind gusts of up to 60 mph in higher elevations.
The storm was part of a system that moved through southeast Alaska and brought heavy snow to Haines and blizzard-like conditions to Juneau, Jacobs said. Areas farther south had minor flooding.
Landslides were reported near Ketchikan and on Prince of Wales Island. KTUU, a local TV station in Alaska, reported several landslides happening across the state that damaged homes, caused power outages and closed major highways.
Search suspended:5-year-old girl dies, search suspended for man swept out by California wave: Coast Guard
veryGood! (69287)
Related
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- 3 French airports forced to evacuate after security alerts in the latest of a series of threats
- Biden raises more than potential GOP challengers in 3rd quarter, while Trump leads GOP field in fundraising
- These are the 21 species declared extinct by US Fish and Wildlife
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- Taxpayers in 13 states can file income taxes with the IRS for free in 2024. Here's how.
- Major U.S. science group lays out a path to smooth the energy transtion
- Colorado teens accused of taking ‘memento’ photo after rock-throwing death set to appear in court
- Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
- Wolfgang Van Halen marries Andraia Allsop in ceremony that honors his late father Eddie Van Halen
Ranking
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- Missouri ex-officer who killed Black man loses appeal of his conviction, judge orders him arrested
- Natalie Sanandaji of Long Island describes escaping Israeli dance festival during Hamas attack: We heard the first gunshots
- Death Grips reportedly quits show after being hit by glowsticks: 'Bands are not robots'
- Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
- Well-known leader of a civilian ‘self-defense’ group has been slain in southern Mexico
- Gaza’s doctors struggle to save hospital blast survivors as Middle East rage grows
- Inbox cluttered with spam? Here's how to (safely) unsubscribe from emails
Recommendation
Travis Hunter, the 2
Federal jury convicts two employees in fatal Wisconsin corn mill explosion
Ford chair bashes UAW for escalating strike, says Ford is not the enemy — Toyota, Honda and Tesla are
Maryland medical waste incinerator to pay $1.75M fine for exposing public to biohazardous material
What to watch: O Jolie night
Vanderpump Rules' Jax Taylor Has a Special Invitation for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
Ex-Michigan State coach Mel Tucker faces Wednesday court deadline in fight over text messages
21 species removed from endangered list due to extinction, U.S. wildlife officials say