Several people stranded on Highway 99 near Lillooet, B.C., following mudslides

Highway 99 Near Squamish. Photo by Gerdel / Wikimedia Commons.

LILLOOET, B.C.—Three people have been stranded overnight on Highway 99 north of Lillooet, B.C., after their vehicles got caught between two mudslides that closed a section of the road.

A storm hit the region at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday night.

Transportation Ministry spokesman Dan Palesch said Wednesday that 10 to 12 smaller slides came down in various locations through a segment of 10 to 12 kilometres.

A geotechnical engineer has attended the site by helicopter and cleanup work is underway, the ministry said.

The ministry’s Drive BC site said the highway remains shut down in both directions from Lillooet to 35 kilometres north of the community.

There’s no estimate on when it will reopen, and no local detour is available. The alternate route to Lillooet is via Highway 12 to Lytton and then Highway 1 to Cache Creek.

Lillooet Mayor Dennis Bontron said no injuries have been reported from the slides.

“The slide came behind them and a slide was in front of them so they weren’t able to continue on or go back,” he said.

The storm also dumped hail that damaged one home, Bontron said.