(TheProudRepublic.com) – Destroying several homes and pushing mandatory evacuations to part of the city’s population, a landslide in Ketchikan, Alaska, resulted in one person’s death and left three others injured.
During the emergency, a local community center and Ketchikan High School were set up as shelters. There were also warnings of a potential second landslide, and emergency crews were closely monitoring the situation.
“A potential secondary landslide area has been identified south of the original slide location. Response crews are standing by,” the city said in a release.
Moreover, the landslide followed heavy rain throughout the weekend, which contributed to the conditions leading up to the disaster. Reports indicated that the heavy rain was expected to continue this week.
The scale of the devastation left many, including Ketchikan Mayor Dave Kiffer, stunned. “In my 65 years in Ketchikan, I have never seen a slide of this magnitude,” he said in a statement.
Governor Mike Dunleavy (R-AK) declared the area a disaster.
“This afternoon, I verbally declared a disaster declaration for the landslide that struck Ketchikan earlier today,” Dunleavy posted on X. “All state agencies are directed to provide whatever assistance is needed. My thoughts and prayers are with the residents of Ketchikan tonight.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) also expressed concern for those affected by the landslide.
“Praying for everyone in Ketchikan right now,” she posted on X. “The city has issued a warning that a second landslide is possible and is mandating evacuation for people who live along 1st, 2nd and 3rd Avenues as well as parts of Water Street.”
“Officials are encouraging those evacuating to use Madison Street to reach an emergency shelter at the Ketchikan High School,” Murkowski added.
According to Alaska’s Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, landslides have been a recurring hazard in southeastern Alaska.
In addition, these natural disasters, which occur when the ground on slopes becomes unstable, have caused tens of millions of dollars in damage and resulted in 11 deaths in the region over the past decade.
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