The silence after a natural disaster can be “more haunting than the disaster itself.” Near Lillooet, British Columbia, rescue crews have been working tirelessly following a deadly mudslide triggered by severe rainfall. The RCMP confirmed that the bodies of three men have been recovered, while a fourth man remains missing, casting a heavy shadow over communities already reeling from flooding and washed-out infrastructure.

The first breakthrough came on Wednesday when teams recovered one man’s body from the slide zone. Conditions were “extremely treacherous—unstable ground, thick mud, loose rock, and the constant threat of additional slope movement” forced crews to proceed cautiously, often on foot. Two more bodies were found on Thursday, confirming that the slide had claimed multiple lives. B.C. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe emphasized the painstaking nature of the mission and the care taken to “ensure the safety of responders.”

Search efforts for the fourth missing man continued but were suspended due to worsening conditions. Officials cited “heavy, rain-soaked soil, unstable slopes, and large swaths of shifting debris” as barriers. Specialized crews will return when it is safe, but families face a painful mix of grief and uncertainty.

This tragedy follows the earlier recovery of a woman’s body from the same area, the first confirmed fatality from the severe weather. Scientists have long warned that intense rainfall over steep terrain can rapidly destabilize hillsides, a risk accelerated by last weekend’s extreme rain, flooding, and blocked roads.

Communities responded with grief, solidarity, and support for first responders. The Lillooet mudslide is “a reminder that nature’s power can reshape lives in a single moment,” leaving families to mourn while the province confronts the ongoing challenges of extreme weather and human vulnerability.