Alaska Landslide Victims Identified
The Alaska landslide victims, including five family members and their neighbor, a commercial fisherman who ran for the state's lone seat in the US House last year, have been identified by authorities. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

Alaska officials have disclosed the identities of the victims affected by the recent landslide near Wrangell, which resulted in three fatalities and left three individuals missing, per ABC News.

The landslide occurred on Monday, just before 9 p.m. local time, close to Wrangell in the Alaska Panhandle, along mile 11 of the Zimovia Highway, according to authorities.

The Alaska Department of Public Safety reported that three homes were directly in the path of the landslide - two on the mountainside and one on the waterside of the highway. One of the mountainside homes is believed to have been unoccupied at the time.

Tragically, five of the Alaska landslide victims belonged to the same family, as confirmed by the Department of Public Safety. The deceased have been identified as Timothy Heller, 44; Beth Heller, 36; and Mara Heller, 16.

The missing individuals are Derek Heller, 12; and Kara Heller, 11, and their neighbor, Otto Florschutz, 65.

Officials have notified their next of kin.

Alaska Landslide Victims

Otto Florschutz, one of the victims, was a Republican and a former member of Wrangell's Port Commission, according to the Killeen Daily Herald. He entered the race for the congressional seat left vacant by the late US Rep. Don Young and was known for his ability to build consensus.

Beth Heller, another victim, served on the Wrangell School Board from 2019 to 2020 and had been part of the district's parent advisory committee for several years.

The Hellers, married in August 2010, operated a construction company called Heller High Water.

Close friend Tyla Nelson described Beth as a "fantastic human" and a devoted mother.

Wrangell School District Superintendent Bill Burr announced counseling services for students and staff in the wake of this devastating loss. The district plans to provide support as schools resume after the Thanksgiving break.

In an email, Burr expressed the profound impact of losing an entire family with three students, emphasizing the need for support during this difficult time.

The Alaska Landslide

The Alaska landslide, estimated to be 450 feet wide, occurred during a rain and windstorm, AP reports. Wrangell experienced approximately 2 inches of rain on Monday, accompanied by wind gusts up to 60 mph.

Experts suggest that while the rainfall wasn't unusual, the strong winds might have contributed to the slide.

Saturated soil, potentially triggered by the strong winds, could lead to landslides, according to Barrett Salisbury, a geologist with the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.

Founded in 1811, Wrangell is one of the oldest non-Alaska Native settlements in the state. Historically influenced by Tlingits, Russians, the British, and Americans, Wrangell has evolved from a timber-driven economy to one centered around commercial fishing.

This tragic event echoes a similar incident in December 2020 when torrential rains led to a landslide in Haines, claiming two lives. That slide, which occurred in southeast Alaska, buried the community's streets under approximately 9 feet of mud and fallen trees.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: 3 dead and 3 missing after landslide rips through remote Alaska village - From Associated Press