Two adults and two children were recovered, missing still are one adult and one child. Search efforts are ongoing.
November 21, 2023, 9:00 am update
On November 20, 2023, at 8:51 pm, a large landslide was reported on the Zimovia Highway at mile 11. Emergency responders from the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Wrangell Police Department, Wrangell Fire Department, US Forest Service, Wrangell Search and Rescue, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, and the US Coast Guard immediately responded to the site.
A preliminary survey determined that three single-family residences were directly in the path of the landslide. The first responders started a hasty search to look for survivors. The body of one deceased individual was located during the hasty search. Multiple individuals are believed to have been within the slide area when the landslide occurred and are believed to be missing. The Alaska State Troopers have assumed command of the search and rescue effort.
DO NOT ENTER the slide area; the slide has been active throughout the night. Additional landslides are possible in the area. All persons living between mile 11 and the end of the pavement should evacuate into Wrangell. Water taxis are available to help those on the south end navigate to the other side of the slide area. The Zimovia Highway is closed to all highway traffic south of mile 11.
Additional ground search efforts on the slide have been paused until the slide can be assessed for safety by a geologist. There is a risk of additional landslides in the area, which necessitates this assessment. Crews may use aerial search platforms such as planes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) drones in search efforts today until the ground search can be resumed. Officials are working on bringing a Southeast Alaska-based geologist into Wrangell today to conduct the assessment.
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is bringing in additional personnel and UAS drone equipment from DOT and AST this morning on a chartered aircraft from Juneau.
November 21, 2023, 5:15 pm Update
This afternoon a drone operator located two deceased adults in the slide area. The two bodies were recovered from the slide area this evening. At this time, Troopers believe that two juveniles and one adult are still unaccounted for in the slide area. Search and rescue K9 teams from SEA Dogs in Juneau and Wrangell Search and Rescue are actively searching on the ground. No further updates are expected tonight on the search and rescue effort.
November 24, 2023 Update
The Alaska Department of Public Safety continues to work closely with our partners at the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities on clearing the roadway of debris. A scent detection K9 team remains on standby to resume searching if new information or evidence provides a specific search area that needs to be investigated.
Three Alaskans remain missing since the landslide occurred:
65-year-old Otto Florschutz
12-year-old Derek Heller
11-year-old Kara Heller
Three Alaskans were located deceased during the search effort:
44-year-old Timothy Heller (located 11/21/23)
36-year-old Beth Heller (located 11/21/23)
16-year-old Mara Heller (located 11/20/23)
Next of kin have been notified for the missing and deceased. The bodies of the deceased were sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage for autopsy.
The Alaska Department of Public Safety does not anticipate releasing any further press releases on the Wrangell landslide unless any of the missing persons are located, or active search efforts are resumed due to new information. For updates on road-clearing efforts, please follow the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities social media pages. Please follow the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s social media channels for information about the state-declared disaster declaration and ongoing recovery efforts.
November 26, 2023, 9:45 am Update
At 6:35 p.m. on November 25, 2023, the body of 11-year-old Kara Heller was recovered from the landslide debris. A Scent Detection K-9 indicated on an area of the debris and with the assistance of an excavator, the remains were recovered. Next of kin and the State Medical Examiners Office has been notified. A scent detection K9 team remains on standby and will resume searching if new information or evidence leads to a specific search area.
The two Alaskans that remain missing since the landslide occurred:
65-year-old Otto Florschutz
12-year-old Derek Heller
For updates on road-clearing efforts, please follow the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities social media pages. Please follow the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s social media channels for information about the state-declared disaster declaration and ongoing recovery efforts.
