Washington mudslide kills 8

Searchers found five more bodies in the sludge of a massive landslide in the US state of Washington.

It brought the death toll to at least eight from the wall of debris that swept through a small riverside neighbourhood.

Four more bodies were discovered late yesterday, said Snohomish County sheriff’s Lieutenant Rob Palmer said.

Earlier in the day, authorities said one body had been found on the debris field. Three people were already confirmed dead on Saturday.

More people remained missing. Earlier yesterday the authorities said there were at least 18, but that count came before additional bodies were discovered.

The mudslide that struck Saturday morning also critically injured several people and destroyed about 30 homes.

Crews were able to get out to the muddy, tree-strewn area after geologists few over in a helicopter.

They decided it was safe enough for emergency responders and technical rescue personnel to search for possible survivors, Snohomish County fire district 21 Chief Travis Hots.

“We didn’t see or hear any signs of life out there today,” he said, adding that they did not search the entire debris field, only drier areas safe to traverse.

Despite that, he said crews were still in a “search and rescue mode. It has not gone to a recovery mode at this time”.

Several people, including a baby, were critically injured in the mudslide that hit about miles north of Seattle. About 30 homes were destroyed.

Rescuers’ hopes of finding more survivors had been buoyed late on Saturday when they heard people yelling for help from within the debris field, but they were unable to reach anyone.

The mud was so thick and deep that searchers had to turn back.

Some of the missing may have been able to get out on their own, authorities said. The number unaccounted for could change because some people may have been in cars and on roads when the slide hit, Mr Hots said.

Officials described the mudslide as “a big wall of mud and debris”. It was reported about 60 feet deep in some areas.

Authorities believe the slide was caused by ground made unstable by recent heavy rainfall.

Shari Ireton, a spokeswoman for the Snohomish County sheriff’s office, said yesterday a total of eight people were injured in the slide.

A six-month-old boy and an 81-year-old man remained in critical condition at Harborview Medical Centre in Seattle.

Hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg said two men, ages 37 and 58, were in serious condition, while a 25-year-old woman was upgraded to satisfactory condition.