ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A tragic landslide in Ketchikan has left one person dead and three others injured, with two of the injured individuals requiring hospitalization. The aftermath of the natural disaster prompted a state emergency declaration, drawing immediate responses from Alaska lawmakers. As a result, an emergency shelter has been established to assist those affected, and multiple streets have been evacuated due to safety concerns.
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough, along with the governor’s office, provided a late Sunday night update on the situation, shedding light on the extent of the devastation caused by the landslide. Mandatory evacuations were swiftly issued for residents living along 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Avenues as well as parts of Water Street, following the downing of powerlines during the incident.
Amid the chaos, the City Ketchikan issued precautionary warnings regarding the potential threat of a second landslide, urging individuals to utilize Madison Street as a safe passage to the emergency shelter at Ketchikan High School. Governor Mike Dunleavy has verbally approved a state of disaster emergency, enabling those impacted by the disaster to potentially access critical state disaster relief funds. A spokesperson for the governor’s office, Jeff Turner, mentioned that a comprehensive formal declaration is in the works, with a press release and official statements forthcoming.
Collaborative search and rescue efforts are underway in Ketchikan, with assistance from Alaska State Troopers and Wildlife Troopers. Residents are being advised to steer clear of electrical lines, particularly those that may be dangerously positioned on the ground near 2nd Avenue. As a result of the landslide, widespread power and internet outages have been reported throughout the city, compounding the challenges faced by the community in the aftermath of the catastrophe.