1 person killed in Ketchikan landslide, multiple homes destroyed

A landslide in Ketchikan on Sunday killed one particular person, injured three others and destroyed a number of houses.

The landslide tore down a steep slope at roughly 4 p.m. above the Third Avenue Bypass, crossing the highway and persevering with downhill into the White Cliff neighborhood, a comparatively densely populated space close to downtown. 

Native authorities recognized the person who died as Sean Griffin, a senior upkeep technician with the town of Ketchikan who was clearing storm drains within the space when the landslide struck.

“It was his dedication to the neighborhood that induced him to answer the decision for help throughout his scheduled break day,” Ketchikan’s metropolis and borough governments mentioned in a joint assertion. “Sean is remembered for his dedication, optimistic spirit, and unwavering devotion to his household, his associates, and to the neighborhood.”

Metropolis and borough officers mentioned three different folks had been injured within the landslide. Two had been admitted to the hospital, however the extent of their accidents is unclear. A 3rd survivor was handled and launched, officers mentioned. They mentioned all people have been accounted for.

“In my 65 years in Ketchikan, I’ve by no means seen a slide of this magnitude,” Metropolis of Ketchikan Mayor Dave Kiffer mentioned in a press release.

That is the fourth deadly landslide in Southeast Alaska in a decade.

RELATED: Ketchikan residents describe a chaotic scene within the hours after deadly landslide

Ketchikan skilled heavy rains on Saturday evening and Sunday main as much as the slide. Officers urged the general public Monday to keep away from the landslide space, warning that it stays unstable.

“There can be no exercise allowed within the slide space till after the world has been cleared by geologists,” metropolis and borough officers mentioned.

An evacuation order additionally remained in impact Monday for residents on Third Avenue, Second Avenue, First Avenue and White Cliff Avenue between Austin and Nadeau streets. A borough spokesperson estimated that roughly 60 to 65 households had been affected by the evacuation order.

Ketchikan Excessive Faculty is about up as an emergency shelter with water, meals and blankets. The Saxman Group Heart has been recognized as a second emergency shelter web site. Some 12 folks stayed on the shelter Sunday evening, native officers mentioned, with others stopping by to entry sources.

The town and borough requested evacuees who have to enter their houses to inform the Ketchikan Emergency Operations Heart at (907) 228-2383 earlier than returning to the world.

The slide blocked the Third Avenue Bypass, in addition to different roads within the space. Crews cleared downed energy strains that had been interfering with rescue efforts. The borough confirmed that energy has been restored to close by houses however energy on First and Second avenues within the slide zone will possible be down for an prolonged time period.

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough introduced {that a} secondary space simply south of the unique slide has been recognized that might pose a landslide danger. They mentioned response crews are monitoring it. 

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has issued a catastrophe declaration for the landslide.

“All state companies are directed to supply no matter help is required,” he wrote on social media on Sunday. “My ideas and prayers are with the residents of Ketchikan tonight.”

The division’s State Particular person Help and Momentary Housing applications are accepting functions from “survivors with damages or emergency bills” associated to the landslide, the town and borough mentioned. Registration is obtainable by telephone at (844) 445-7131 or on-line at prepared.alaska.gov/Restoration/IA.

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Faculty District canceled the primary day of courses on Monday for all Ketchikan faculties as a way to maintain the roads clear for emergency automobiles. Faculty is canceled by way of at the very least Wednesday, the superintendent mentioned.

Kiffer, the town mayor, mentioned in a press release that the lack of life was heartbreaking, calling for assist to study extra in regards to the slide’s underlying causes.

“With the slides now we have seen throughout the area, there may be clearly a region-wide challenge that we have to attempt to perceive with the assist of our State geologist,” he mentioned.

Sunday’s catastrophe is Southeast Alaska’s fourth deadly landslide in a decade, a part of a historical past within the area that noticed 15 folks killed by a large Juneau slide in 1936. Extra lately, three males had been killed in a 2015 Sitka slide, two folks had been by no means discovered after a 2020 Haines slide crashed by way of a number of houses and 6 folks died in final yr’s landslide alongside Wrangell’s Zimovia Freeway.

Researchers have examined Southeast Alaska because of these casualties, with a remaining report on the Wrangell slide linking it to extreme rain on the time. Scientists say local weather change is driving that rise in rainfall, contributing to growing landslide dangers throughout the area. Scientists are additionally working to raised map Southeast geology, which may assist give better warning of future slides.

A particular borough web site has been created to host additional data on the Ketchikan landslide.

Eric Stone covers state authorities, monitoring the Alaska Legislature, state coverage and its influence on all Alaskans. Attain him at [email protected] and observe him on X at @eriwinsto. Learn extra about Eric right here.