Wrangell, Alaska (KINY) – As of Thursday, responders changed their strategy from holding an active search to a reactive search. The Alaska Department of Public Safety continues to work closely with its partners at the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities on clearing the roadway of debris.
A scent detection K9 team remains on standby to resume searching if new information or evidence provides a specific search area that needs to be investigated.
Three Alaskans remain missing since the landslide occurred:
- 65-year-old Otto Florschutz
- 12-year-old Derek Heller
- 11-year-old Kara Heller
Three Alaskans were located deceased during the search effort:
- 44-year-old Timothy Heller (located 11/21/23)
- 36-year-old Beth Heller (located 11/21/23)
- 16-year-old Mara Heller (located 11/20/23)
Next of kin have been notified for the missing and deceased. The bodies of the deceased were sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage for autopsy.
