No new developments at Johnsons Landing recovery site; No one missing/injured in subsequent Fairmont slide

by Castlegar Source on 17 Jul 2012

Two teams continue to search the Johnsons Landing landslide, where two people are still missing and presumed dead.

According to BC Coroner's Service spokesperson Barb McLintock, communications are better today, with radio contact available, but as of 2:30 p.m., there was nothing new to report.

"There are two search teams, one searching along the line of the slide near the Webbers' house (where two bodies have already been found, and are believed to be the remains of Valentine Webber, 60, and one of his two daughters, either Rachel Webber, 17, or Diana, 22)," she said. "The other team is working around the foundation of the Frehse house."

Petra Frehse, 64, is the fourth person missing and presumed fatality caused by Thursday's slide.

The slide engulfed three homes in between eight and 10 feet of mud, rocks, trees and debris, and roughly 24 searchers remain with heavy equipment, searching for two bodies.

Some of the resources at Johnsons Landing were diverted to a landslide that took out Highway 93/95 in Fairmont Sunday.

"As of ... the Columbia Valley RCMP have not received any reports of overdue travelers or missing persons since the July 15 landslide that occurred in the Fairmont area," said RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.

“The Fairmont area of B.C. is an internationally-known travel destination with visitors from coast to coast and around the world. We ask all tourists (who) were in the Fairmont area to contact their families and loved ones to ensure that all are accounted for," he said.

RCMP Backgrounder

At around 4:45 p.m. on July 15, the Columbia Valley RCMP responded to a report of a landslide at the Fairmont Creek area. The RCMP immediately activated an emergency disaster response via the Provincial Emergency Program and Emergency Management BC.

The RCMP was amongst several emergency response agencies working under the Incident Commander System in an assistance role to the Regional District East Kootenays who have remained as the Incident Command agency.

The RCMP SED Air Services helicopter attended the area on July 15 and conducted flight duties in support of operations on both July 15 and 16. Throughout the response the RCMP has had between six to 12 members including the SED Traffic Services and Police Services Dog team. Off duty Iqaluit RCMP S/Sgt Neil Pearson was amongst the campers who were cut off. Although holidaying S/Sgt Pearson went into “cop mode” and was of great assistance to the those stranded and kept the responders up to date on the safety and well being of the some 600 stranded campers.