Alaska’s governor declared a state of emergency after a deadly landslide hit Ketchikan, according to ABC News.
The landslide occurred around 4:15 p.m. local time on August 25 in the city’s Gateway Borough. One person was killed, and three others were injured. Two of the injured are still in the Ketchikan Medical Center, while the third was treated and released.
Rodney Dial, the borough’s mayor, shared a statement on Facebook, saying, With a heavy heart, we report that a landslide has taken a life, caused injuries, damaged homes, and affected our community. Please keep the families in your thoughts as we work to recover and help those in need.
Ketchikan’s mayor, David Kiffer, expressed shock at the severity of the landslide, saying, I’ve never seen a slide of this magnitude before. With similar incidents across the region, it’s clear we need to understand what’s happening with help from our state geologist. The loss of life and homes is heartbreaking.”
Following the landslide, Governor Mike Dunleavy declared a disaster on X formerly Twitter and directed all state agencies to provide assistance. He added, My thoughts and prayers are with the residents of Ketchikan tonight.
Landslides usually happen when heavy rain follows a dry period. Ketchikan normally gets about six inches of rain in August, but this year, it’s only had about three inches. On August 24 and 25, however, heavy rains hit the area, with some higher elevations getting up to nine inches. More rain is expected in the coming week.