Massive, deadly mudslide in Washington state

CTV Vancouver: Massive landslide sweeps away homes A mudslide in Washington State kills several people, injures more and sweeps away six homes.

SEATTLE -- A massive landslide of mud, trees and rocks in rural Washington killed three people on Saturday, critically injured an infant and several others, and destroyed six houses, authorities said.

The slide blocked the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, which prompted an evacuation notice because water was rising rapidly behind the debris. Authorities worried about severe downstream flooding if water suddenly broke through the blockage.

The landslide also completely covered State Route 530 near the town of Oso, about 55 miles north of Seattle. It was at least 135 feet wide and 180 feet deep and hit just before 11 a.m., Snohomish County authorities said.

The Snohomish County sheriff's office reported that two people had been killed at the scene. Authorities said later tone of the people who was rescued died at a hospital.

The injured included a 6-month-old boy, who was in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg said two other victims were in critical condition -- an 81-year-old man and a 58-year-old man -- while a 37-year-old man was in serious condition. Gregg said Harborview had one other male patient from the landslide, but no information on his condition was available.

Five of the injured were brought to Cascade Valley Hospital in Arlington, but one has already been treated and released, said hospital spokeswoman Jennifer Egger.

The facility was expecting more injured people, but Egger said she didn't know how many and couldn't comment on the condition of those already at the hospital because they were still being evaluated.

"We're on standby waiting to see what happens next," Egger said.

The American Red Cross has set up at the hospital, Egger said. An evacuation shelter has been set up at Post Middle School in Arlington.

One eyewitness told the Daily Herald that he was driving on the roadway and had to quickly brake to avoid the mudslide.

"I just saw the darkness coming across the road. Everything was gone in three seconds," Paulo Falcao told the newspaper.

Search-and-rescue help came from around the region, plus the Washington State Patrol, and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Authorities believe the slide was caused by ground water saturation from recent heavy rainfall.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for Snohomish County through Sunday afternoon.

People who live in the North Fork's flood plain, from the small communities of Oso to Stanwood, were urged to flee to higher ground.

Bart Treece, spokesman for the Washington State Department of Transportation, said he didn't know how long the two-lane rural road will be closed. Drivers were advised to find another way to get between Darrington and Arlington, he said.

"We're standing by ready to help out where we can," Treece said.