A landslide that officials say spanned a mile in length has killed at least eight people in Washington.
According to the Associated Press, the slide hit Snohomish County around 11 a.m. Saturday morning, destroying over 30 homes. Three were confirmed dead on Saturday, and another body was found amidst the damage early yesterday. Snohomish County Lt. Rob Palmer said that four additional bodies were found Sunday night, upping the death toll to eight.
At least eighteen people remain unaccounted for, but helicopters and search crews continue to look through the destruction for survivors. The search has proven to be difficult because the mud is so thick. "We have this huge square-mile mudflow that's basically like quicksand," Snohomish County Fire District 21 Chief Travis Hots told the Associated Press.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who called the aftermath a "square mile of total devastation," has declared a state of emergency. "There is a full scale, 100 percent aggressive rescue going on right now," Inslee said, insuring families that the search for their loved ones will continue.
[via Associated Press]
