Update | 5:28 p.m. – Robert Woolsey, KCAW
Officials now say only three people remain missing in Tuesday’s landslide: City building official William Stortz, 62, and construction workers Elmer Diaz,26, and Ulises Diaz, 25.
The area remained unstable and officials suspended search and rescue efforts for several hours this afternoon, over fears of further landslides — though rescuers did manage to pull a dog alive from the debris. As of Tuesday evening, rescue and debris removal efforts had begun again, and were planned to continue until dark, and pick up again in the morning.
Update | 4:17 p.m. – Rachel Waldholz, KCAW
Four people are believed missing after triggered a series of landslides in Sitka early Tuesday morning. Recovery efforts have been suspended while officials wait for the affected slopes to stabilize.
Those missing were all likely involved in the construction of several new homes on Kramer Avenue, about 2 miles from downtown Sitka. The slide in that area destroyed one of the new homes entirely, and damaged another, though the full extent of the damage was still unclear Tuesday afternoon.
Neighbors have reported a second slide on the northern end of Kramer Avenue, in an area that has not yet been developed.
The area remained unstable and officials suspended search and rescue efforts this afternoon, over fears of further landslides — though rescuers did manage to pull a dog alive from the debris. The neighborhood below the slide has been evacuated.
Heavy rain triggered what now appears to be at least three major landslides — and a handful of smaller ones — in Sitka this morning, prompting the city to declare a state of emergency.
A slide across Sawmill Creek Road heavily damaged the administration building at the Gary Paxton Industrial Park, Sitka’s former pulp mill site, about eight miles from downtown. No injuries were reported, but the building was evacuated, along with bunkhouses belonging to local fish processor Silver Bay Seafoods.
A third slide was reported in a more remote area, on Harbor Mountain.
Harbor Mountain Road has been closed above the first gate at the bottom of the hill. Sawmill Creek Road has been closed beyond Silver Bay Seafoods, as crews work to remove the debris.
The National Weather Service recorded over 2-and-a-half inches of rainfall in the six-hour period between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m..
The flash-flooding prompted temporary trail closures at Sitka National Historical Park. Flooding in the parking lot of the Sitka Laundry Center on Halibut Point Road opened a sinkhole the size of a large van in the pavement. Two propane tanks on the edge of the sinkhole have since been removed.
Update | 2:45 p.m. – Robert Woolsey, KCAW
Recovery operations have been suspended at the site of a major landslide in Sitka, after officials became concerned over instability of the failed slope.
Four people remain unaccounted for in the slide, which destroyed a new home under construction and damaged another.
Sawmill Creek Road has reopened. A second slide this morning crossed the road and damaged the administration building of the Gary Paxton Industrial Park. A third slide near Jacobs Circle did no damage.
Update | 1:45 p.m. – Robert Woolsey, KCAW
Four people are believed missing in a landslide that occurred in Sitka early this morning.
Those missing were all likely involved in the construction of several new homes on Kramer Avenue. The slide in that area destroyed one of the new homes entirely and damaged another.
Neighbors have reported a second slide on the northern end of Kramer Avenue in an undeveloped area.
Heavy rains triggered what appears to be three landslides in Sitka early in the day. A slide across Sawmill Creek Road heavily damaged the administration building at Gary Paxton Industrial Park, but no injuries were reported. The building was evacuated, along with the Silver Bay bunkhouses.
Sawmill Creek Road remains closed beyond Whale Park.
The National Weather Service recorded over 2-and-a-half inches of rainfall between 4 and 10 a.m.
The flash flooding prompted trail closures at Sitka National Historical Park. Flooding in the parking lot of the Sitka Laundry Center opened a sinkhole in the pavement. Two propane tanks on the edge of the sinkhole have been removed.
Sitka police and fire departments are asking residents to refrain from calling, as phone lines are needed for emergency communication. Also, there is no need for additional volunteer help at this time.
Original Story | 11:39 a.m. – Rachel Waldholz, KCAW
The City and Borough of Sitka has declared a state of emergency after heavy rain triggered at least three different landslides this morning.
The Sitka Fire Department has reported slides on Halibut Point Road, Kramer Avenue and Sawmill Creek Road, near the Gary Paxton Industrial Park.
A sinkhole had opened up beneath a pair of propane tanks on Halibut Point Road.
The slide on Kramer Avenue damaged at least one house. The extent of the damage is not yet clear.
Anyone working on the construction on Kramer Avenue is asked to call the Sitka Police Department at 747-3245. Sitka Search and Rescue is trying to account for everyone who might have been in the homes affected by the slide.
The fire department closed Sawmill Creek Road at Whale Park. Kramer Avenue was also closed. Halibut Point Road remains open.
KCAW has also received reports from residents in the 2200 block of Halibut Point Road below Kramer Avenue that homes have been evacuated.
Expect more updates as information becomes available.
