Alaska city declares disaster as landslides strike

A major landslide in the city of Ketchikan, Alaska, killed one person and injured three on Sunday, with the governor, borough mayor and city mayor have all issued emergency declarations.

The landslide came as a heavy rain front moving across Alaska and there are fears of secondary landslides to follow.

As a disaster was declared, 3rd Avenue, 2nd Avenue, 1st Avenue, and White Cliff Avenue were evacuated.

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Homes and infrastructure were damaged by the landslide, the Ketchikan Gateway Borough and City of Ketchikan said in a joint statement Sunday.

Two people were hospitalized, with one was treated and released. All other individuals have been accounted for, the statement said.

A potential secondary landslide area was identified to the south of the original slide location and crews were standing by, according to the Ketchikan Gateway Borough and City of Ketchikan.

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Mud running under pavements also created some sinkholes around the area.

Power was lost and restored to some affected areas by 8:15 p.m.

Other areas will remain without electricity while the landslide is cleared and broken power poles are replaced, the borough and city said.

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Governor Mike Dunleavy announced a disaster declaration on Sunday.

“This afternoon I verbally declared a disaster declaration for the landslide that struck Ketchikan earlier today,” the governor said on X, formerly Twitter.

“All state agencies are directed to provide whatever assistance is needed. My thoughts and prayers are with the residents of Ketchikan tonight.”

Borough Mayor Rodney Dial and city Mayor Dave Kiffer issued a separate emergency declaration.

“Friends, is with a heavy heart we relay that a landslide in the city has taken a life, caused several injuries, damaged homes and impacted our community,” Dial said in the statement.

Kiffer said the loss of life was “heartbreaking, and my heart goes out to those who lost their homes.”

“In my 65 years in Ketchikan, I have never seen a slide of this magnitude. With the slides we have seen across the region, there is clearly a region-wide issue that we need to try to understand with the support of our state geologist,” Kiffer said.

A Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Response specialist and a federal Department of Transportation personnel are expected to travel to Ketchikan on Monday, Dunleavy said.

“I have directed state agencies to make available all resources and staff for the response effort,” Dunleavy said, noting that the city was receiving assistance from the State Emergency Operations Center.

Ketchikan High School has been set up as emergency shelter with supplies, bedding, food, and other necessities, while schools will be closed on Monday.

According to the National Weather Service, there is expected to be more heavy rain toward the middle of the week.

“The entirety of the panhandle can expect to see rain on Wednesday, continuing into Thursday.”

Ketchikan is Alaska’s furthest south large community, with a population of about 8,000.

Last week, foods in the indigenous Yup’ik village of Napakiak saw water levels rise over 3 feet, trapping numerous people in their homes, despite them being in elevated structures.

Elsewhere in Alaska, a home fell into floodwater caused by a glacier lake outburst.