A powerful landslide in the city of Ketchikan, located in extreme southeast Alaska, has resulted in at least one fatality and left three people injured, CBS News reports, citing local officials.
In response to the disaster which led to numerous power outages, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, along with Borough Mayor Rodney Dial and Ketchikan Mayor Dave Kiffer, has issued disaster declarations.
“I have directed state agencies to make available all resources and staff for the response effort,” Governor Dunleavy said.
To aid those affected, a shelter has been established at Ketchikan High School. In a post on social media platform X, Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan referred to the landslide as “devastating” and noted that crews are on alert for a potential secondary landslide area identified south of the original slide.
Local and state agencies have swiftly mobilized to respond to the incident, and a Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Response Specialist, along with personnel from the federal Department of Transportation, are expected to arrive in Ketchikan on Monday.
“In my 65 years in Ketchikan, I have never seen a slide of this magnitude,” Mayor Dave Kiffer said.
He stresed the need for a thorough investigation into the regional landslide activity, adding that the loss of life is “heartbreaking” and that his thoughts are with those who have lost their homes.
The three injured have been transported to a local hospital. Local officials confirmed that everyone in Ketchikan has been accounted for, providing some relief amid the ongoing recovery efforts.
