Province to review fatal Johnsons Landing landslide

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VICTORIA (NEWS1130) –  The BC government says it will conduct a review of the devastating landslide that killed four people in the tiny Kootenay community of Johnsons Landing.

Forests Minister Steve Thomson
says the review is necessary to see if any lessons can be learned from the tragedy in the hamlet about 70 kilometres northeast of Nelson.

He says the terms of reference for the review will be determined later.

Thomson’s ministry confirmed earlier it received an email from an area resident in the hours before the slide about concerns that debris was clogging an area creek.

Premier Christy Clark says she’s heard from experts that slides like the one at Johnsons Landing are difficult to predict, but any review is welcome.

Two people are still missing, but the remains of two others have been found in the mud, boulders and logs that crashed down on three homes last Thursday.

Meanwhile, help is arriving for the people forced out of their homes by the disaster.

The Red Cross is working to make sure help is available.

The agency’s Amrit Dhatt says in the short term they can provide shelter, food, clothing medication, and even clean-up kits for people looking to return to damaged homes.
    
“This has been a devastating disaster and a lot of the families, there are homes that have been destroyed, people have been evacuated, it is going to be a long road to recovery.”

She says 35-40 people living the tiny community, have been impacted by the tragedy.

Anyone wanting to help can donate to the severe weather fund set up by the Red Cross.

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