The landslide occurred Monday evening near Wrangell.
At least one person is dead and several others are believed to be missing following a “large landslide” in Alaska, officials said.
The landslide was reported Monday along Zimovia Highway at mile marker 11 shortly before 9 p.m. local time near Wrangell, a town in the Alaska Panhandle, officials said. According to the Alaska Department of Public Safety, three homes were directly in the path of the landslide.
Wrangell police and fire emergency responders, Alaska Wildlife Troopers and other agencies immediately responded and “initiated a hasty search for survivors,” the Alaska Department of Public Safety said. Alaska in a press release.
The body of a deceased person was found during the search, the Alaska Department of Public Safety said.
“Several individuals were in the slide area when the landslide occurred and are believed to be missing,” the Alaska Department of Public Safety said.
Alaska State Troopers are leading the search and rescue efforts, which were halted due to the dangerous conditions.
“A large-scale search and rescue effort cannot be conducted at this time because the site is extremely dangerous and unstable,” Wrangell officials said.
The Alaska Department of Public Safety said it was working to have a geologist conduct a safety assessment Tuesday before resuming ground searches. Drones are also on their way to the area.
Authorities have advised individuals not to enter the landslide area as more landslides are possible in the area. Residents in the area were asked to evacuate to Wrangell.
Zimovia Highway remains closed to traffic south of mile 6.
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