Rescue crews in Alaska have suspended active search operations for victims of a devastating landslide that claimed at least three lives and left three others missing in Wrangell, southeast Alaska. The landslide occurred four days ago after heavy rain and winds saturated the mountainside, triggering tons of mud and debris to sweep down a rain-soaked slope, burying three houses and a stretch of highway. Search teams concluded their efforts after scouring the debris field, but a canine scent-detection team remains on standby for further searches if new information emerges.
The three confirmed fatalities are identified as Timothy Heller (44), his wife Beth Heller (36), and their 16-year-old daughter Mara. Two younger children, Derek and Kara Heller (12 and 11), are among the missing individuals presumed dead. The third missing person is 65-year-old Otto Florschutz, while his wife, Christina (63), was found alive but injured on Tuesday.
The tragic landslide has deeply affected the tight-knit community in Wrangell, and the halt in active search operations marks a somber moment in the aftermath of the disaster. The town, situated on the northern tip of Wrangell Island in the Alaska Panhandle region, is now grappling with the loss of lives and the devastating impact of the natural disaster.
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