AN Alaskan town has been devastated by a landslide – and the aftermath of raging waters and devastation has been captured on video.
The landslide left several individuals injured and at least one person dead as neighbors and officials called it “heartbreaking.”
A landslide hit the city of Ketchikan – about 300 miles south of Juneau – on Sunday afternoon, prompting Alaska’s Governor, Mike Dunleavy, to issue a disaster emergency declaration.
“All state agencies are directed to provide whatever assistance is needed,” the governor posted on X.
“My thoughts and prayers are with residents of Ketchikan tonight,” he added.
Landslides are known as a type of “mass wasting,” causing rock, earth, and other debris to slope downward.
Video footage of the landslide showed the devastating impact it had on the city.
Land detached from a hillside at around 4 pm local time, damaging anything in its path.
The landslide tore down hilly neighborhoods, causing an influx of water to rush through and subsequently flood the surrounding area.
Several homes and businesses were leveled, while others suffered major damage.
The landslide also damaged roadways and knocked down power lines, knocking out power for hundreds of residents.
An evacuation order was issued for residents of Third Avenue and nearby streets.
Officials also opened a shelter at a nearby high school for affected residents.
“In my 65 years in Ketchikan, I have never seen a slide of this magnitude,” the city’s Mayor Dave Kiffer said in a press release shared on Facebook.
“The loss of life that we have encountered is heartbreaking, and my heart goes out to those who lost their homes,” he added.
Sean Griffin was identified as the victim of the landslide by local NBC affiliate KTUU.
A 17-year veteran of the City of Ketchikan Public Works, Griffin was out cleaning storm drains when the landslide occurred.
“Sean was a beloved husband, father, son, neighbor, and coworker,” the borough said in a statement reported by KTUU.
“Sean was raised in Ketchikan and followed his mother into public service.”
POWER OUT
By Monday morning, evacuation orders were still in effect, with emergency crews noting a potential “secondary landslide area” just a few blocks south of the original landslide.
The city confirmed that “any power that could be restored safely was restored by 8:15 pm” on Sunday.
City officials are hoping to restore any remaining power outages throughout the week, once each affected area has been cleared for safety.
Residents, families, and friends of individuals in Ketchikan shared their thoughts and prayers on social media.
What causes a landslide?
Landslides are a mass movement of rock, earth, or debris in a downward slope influenced by gravity. Landslides typically have multiple causes, even in slopes already on the verge of movement, including:
- Rainfall
- Snowmelt
- Changes in water level
- Stream erosion
- Changes in groundwater
- Earthquakes
- Volcanic activity
- Disturbance by human activities
- Any combination of the above
Source: USGS
“My heart belongs to Ketchikan. Prayers for all,” one user wrote.
“Praying for all of Ketchikan. The town holds a very special spot in our hearts,” another user shared.
“Praying for my family friends and community back at home,” a third user commented.
Some residents also shared their concerns following the event and were hoping the city’s ongoing, detrimental weather conditions wouldn’t make things worse.
“I’m really concerned for them, because the weather hasn’t stopped down there,” resident Theodora Bayou said, as reported by Fox Weather.
“It’s still raining and blowing and my home in Metlakatla, right outside of Ketchikan, has had no power since yesterday,” she added.
Borough Mayor Rodney Dial asked others to “keep the affected families in your prayers,” before thanking “first responders, medical personnel, volunteers, business and others offering assistance.”
Alaska Senator, Dan Sullivan, also confirmed he was working with both Dial and Kiffer on “recovery efforts.”
“My team and I stand ready to help facilitate any federal assistance that may be necessary,” he posted on X.
Sullivan also encouraged residents to text 99901 to 888777 for emergency alert updates.
Lisa Murkowski, another Alaska Senator, said in a statement posted to Facebook she was “encouraged to see the entire community rallying to help each other in this time of crisis.”
“My heart is broken for the community of Ketchikan, for those that have been displaced, and for the families of those injured and lost in this devastating landslide,” Murkowski continued.
The American Red Cross was already on the scene by Monday, “coordinating volunteer assistance” and gathering donations for displaced residents.
Ketchikan is a city in and the borough seat of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough on Revillagigedo Island of Alaska.
With a population of around 8,200, it is the sixth-most populous city in the state.
