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Regional Journalism

Landslide Death Toll Expected To Rise

Maj. Tawny Dotson
/
Washington National Guard
Rescue workers on the west side of the Oso Mudslide on Highway 530

The death toll stands at 25 Thursday following the massive landslide near Oso, Washington. Sixteen of those victims have been seen by the Medical Examiner.

Officials say they've located at least nine additional bodies, but these won’t be included in the official death toll until they’ve been examined.

Snohomish County Fire District 21 Chief Travis Hots told reporters Thursday morning that he watched bodies being recovered in the slide zone.

"Things kind of get somber out there. It gets really quiet for a few minutes. You can almost hear a pin drop out there. You see seasoned veterans in this business, they start to tear up. Their eyes get glossy. And it's kind of their way of paying respect to peoples' loved ones that have been lost."

Hots says at least 90 people remain unaccounted for after last Saturday's disaster. Rainfall is expected to hamper rescue and recovery efforts over the next few days.