At least one killed and five missing as huge landslide rips down mountain and wipes out remote town in Alaska

At least one person was killed and five went missing after a huge landslide tore down a mountainside, wiping out a remote town in southeast Alaska on Monday.

The landslide occurred around 9pm on Monday on the Zimovia Highway near Wrangell, a small fishing community with about 2,000 residents located on an island south of Juneau.

The landslide claimed the life of a girl and left several people missing after it struck three single-family residences directly in its path, authorities said on Tuesday.  

'The body of one deceased individual was located during the hasty search,' the state's Department of Public Safety said. 

'Multiple individuals are believed to have been within the slide area when the landslide occurred and are believed to be missing,' the statement added. 

The 450-feet-wide landslide came after a severe storm hit the area over the weekend, with more than three inches of rain falling around Wrangell in the 24 hours. 

Phone service was down after the slide, which also cut off access and power to approximately 75 homes, according to the state emergency management office. 

According to the statement, ground search efforts and rescue mission have been paused as the slide area was still considered active and additional slides were possible. 

A state geologist would have to assess the site to ensure safety before the proceeding of further large search efforts. 

Wrangell interim borough manager Mason Villarma told The Associated Press: 'Our community is resilient. And it always comes together for tragedies like this. We're broken, but resilient and determined to find everybody that's missing.' 

'Parts of the slide have been opened for search and rescue professionals, but in limited spots,'' Villarma said. 

'There's two of them that are able to work in those areas with a cadaver dog. And there was also heat-sensing drones, so those are operational.' 

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities said Tuesday morning that a geologist, a drone expert, and a heavy equipment operator landed in the region to assist in the search. 

No ground search has resumed as of Tuesday evening, but air searches can continue, according to the Alaska State Troopers. 

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued a disaster declaration for Wrangell after the deadly landslide, saying he and his wife were praying for all those affected. 

'Rose and I are heartbroken by this disaster and we pray for the safety of all those on site and offer all the resources our state has available,' he said in a statement on social media. 

Troopers also asked all residents living between mile 11 and the end of the pavement, including those caught on the other side of the slide to evacuate. 

Alaska residents are expressing their prayers and support for the families and friends affected by the tragic landslide on social media.  

'For those who haven’t heard, there was a big mud slide in Wrangell, Alaska. Homes gone, people missing. It’s devastating and my heart hurts,' one user wrote.  

Authorities are urging the public to avoid the area and to promptly report any missing persons.  

Aaron Jacobs, a hydrologist and meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Juneau, said heavy rains in the past 24 hours led up to the landslide. 

Wrangell received around two inches of rain from 1am to 8pm Monday, accompanied by wind gusts reaching up to 60 mph at higher elevations.  

A strong storm hit southeast Alaska recently, bringing heavy snow to some places and blizzard-like conditions to Juneau.