23 March 2014
Last updated at 18:04 ET
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The landslide injured seven people, destroyed 30 houses and
covered a road near the town of Oso, about 90km (55 miles) north of
Seattle.
It was at least 41m (135ft) wide and 54m deep, local authorities said.
They say that two people were killed at the scene and one died in hospital. The injured included a six-month-old boy.
'Wall of mud' An eyewitness told the Daily Herald that he was driving on the road and had to quickly brake to avoid the mudslide.
The
"I just saw the darkness coming across the road. Everything was gone in three seconds,'' Paulo Falcao told the newspaper.
Robin Youngblood, another witness, told the Seattle Times: "All of a sudden thee was a wall of mud.
Then it hit and we were rolling. The house was in sticks. We were buried under things, and we dug ourselves out."
Residents reported hearing cries from those trapped, but local fire chief Travis Hots said the dangerous conditions were hampering the rescue effort.
Search-and-rescue help came from across the state, including the Washington State Patrol and the Army Corps of Engineers.
The landslide cut off the city of Darrington and clogged the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, prompting fears of severe flooding downstream if the build-up of water behind the debris breaks through suddenly.
The authorities say the landslide was caused by recent heavy rain.
More rain is expected in parts of Washington on Sunday, and some people have been advised to move to higher ground.
The area has had problems in the past with unstable land.
Three killed, 18 missing by landslide in Washington state
Video:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-26703994
23 March 2014
Last updated at 18:04 ET
It was at least 41m (135ft) wide and 54m deep, local authorities said.
They say that two people were killed at the scene and one died in hospital. The injured included a six-month-old boy.
'Wall of mud' An eyewitness told the Daily Herald that he was driving on the road and had to quickly brake to avoid the mudslide.
The authorities say the landslide was caused by recent heavy rain
Dangerous conditions are hampering the rescue effort
The thick mud covered an area the size of a square mile
"I just saw the darkness coming across the road. Everything was gone in three seconds,'' Paulo Falcao told the newspaper.
Robin Youngblood, another witness, told the Seattle Times: "All of a sudden thee was a wall of mud. Then it hit and we were rolling. The house was in sticks. We were buried under things, and we dug ourselves out."
Residents reported hearing cries from those trapped, but local fire chief Travis Hots said the dangerous conditions were hampering the rescue effort.
Search-and-rescue help came from across the state, including the Washington State Patrol and the Army Corps of Engineers.
The landslide cut off the city of Darrington and clogged the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, prompting fears of severe flooding downstream if the build-up of water behind the debris breaks through suddenly.
The authorities say the landslide was caused by recent heavy rain.
More rain is expected in parts of Washington on Sunday, and some people have been advised to move to higher ground.
The area has had problems in the past with unstable land.
Three killed, 18 missing by landslide in Washington state
A large rescue operation began soon after the landslide struck on Saturday
At least three people have
been killed and 18 are missing in a huge landslide in the north-western
US state of Washington, officials say.
The landslide injured seven people, destroyed 30 houses and
covered a road near the town of Oso, about 90km (55 miles) north of
Seattle. It was at least 41m (135ft) wide and 54m deep, local authorities said.
They say that two people were killed at the scene and one died in hospital. The injured included a six-month-old boy.
'Wall of mud' An eyewitness told the Daily Herald that he was driving on the road and had to quickly brake to avoid the mudslide.
The authorities say the landslide was caused by recent heavy rain
Dangerous conditions are hampering the rescue effort
The thick mud covered an area the size of a square mile
Robin Youngblood, another witness, told the Seattle Times: "All of a sudden thee was a wall of mud. Then it hit and we were rolling. The house was in sticks. We were buried under things, and we dug ourselves out."
Residents reported hearing cries from those trapped, but local fire chief Travis Hots said the dangerous conditions were hampering the rescue effort.
Search-and-rescue help came from across the state, including the Washington State Patrol and the Army Corps of Engineers.
The landslide cut off the city of Darrington and clogged the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, prompting fears of severe flooding downstream if the build-up of water behind the debris breaks through suddenly.
The authorities say the landslide was caused by recent heavy rain.
More rain is expected in parts of Washington on Sunday, and some people have been advised to move to higher ground.
The area has had problems in the past with unstable land.
From other news sites
-
The Scotsman Many missing after mudslide hits Washington state 27 mins ago
-
Guardian.co.uk Eighteen people missing after fatal Washington landslide 6 hrs ago
-
NDTV US mudslide kills three; searchers seek survivors 9 hrs ago
-
New York Post Washington state landslide kills three 14 hrs ago
-
San Francisco Chronicle Huge landslide in Washington kills 3 people 17 hrs ago
A large rescue operation began soon after the landslide struck on Saturday
At least three people have
been killed and 18 are missing in a huge landslide in the north-western
US state of Washington, officials say.
It was at least 41m (135ft) wide and 54m deep, local authorities said.
They say that two people were killed at the scene and one died in hospital. The injured included a six-month-old boy.
'Wall of mud' An eyewitness told the Daily Herald that he was driving on the road and had to quickly brake to avoid the mudslide.
The
authorities say the landslide was caused by recent heavy rain
Dangerous conditions are hampering the rescue effort
The thick mud covered an area the size of a square mile
Robin Youngblood, another witness, told the Seattle Times: "All of a sudden thee was a wall of mud.
Then it hit and we were rolling. The house was in sticks. We were buried under things, and we dug ourselves out."
Residents reported hearing cries from those trapped, but local fire chief Travis Hots said the dangerous conditions were hampering the rescue effort.
Search-and-rescue help came from across the state, including the Washington State Patrol and the Army Corps of Engineers.
The landslide cut off the city of Darrington and clogged the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, prompting fears of severe flooding downstream if the build-up of water behind the debris breaks through suddenly.
The authorities say the landslide was caused by recent heavy rain.
More rain is expected in parts of Washington on Sunday, and some people have been advised to move to higher ground.
The area has had problems in the past with unstable land.
From other news sites
-
The Scotsman Many missing after mudslide hits Washington state 27 mins ago
-
Guardian.co.uk Eighteen people missing after fatal Washington landslide 6 hrs ago
-
NDTV US mudslide kills three; searchers seek survivors 9 hrs ago
-
New York Post Washington state landslide kills three 14 hrs ago
-
San Francisco Chronicle Huge landslide in Washington kills 3 people 17 hrs ago
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