Probable death toll rises to 24 in Washington state mudslide

ARLINGTON, Wash.,  (Reuters) – The likely death toll from a devastating weekend landslide in Washington state rose to 24 yesterday after rescue workers recovered two bodies and believed they had located eight more, the local fire chief said.

The discovery of additional victims came as crews searched under drizzly skies for survivors amid fading hopes that anyone could still be plucked alive from the massive pile of muck and debris.

“Unfortunately we did not find any signs of life today, we didn’t locate anybody alive, so that’s the disappointing part,” local fire chief Travis Hots told a media briefing.