Several missing after Alaska mudslide hits homes

Six people were missing after a mudslide measuring an estimated two football fields across slammed into a neighborhood in souast Alaska community of Haines, Alaska state troopers said Wednesday. It was one of several reported mudslides after a period of intense rain that authorities said destroyed at least four houses and damd ors.

Search and rescue efforts were suspended Wednesday evening as rains continued to batter area and a flash flood warning was in effect until late Wednesday. Haines Borough mayor told Associated Press that search efforts would resume Thursday morning, ding that state would be providing ditional resources. borough has about 2,500 residents.

Those unaccounted for were living in Beach Ro area, where largest slide - about 600 feet (183 meters) wide - came down Wednesday afteron, according to mayor. About nine feet (2.7 meters) of mud and trees covered area, according to troopers. About 30 people were evacuated, and emergency response crews rescued ors.

Haines resident Luke Williams said community was coming toger after rainstorm, which he said was worst he h ever seen in area where he has lived throughout his 39 years. An effort to fly search and rescue teams in a helicopter from Juneau was pushed back to Thursday morning, troopers said. Coast Guard was also deploying forces from or ports in souast Alaska to help. 

(Im Credits: AP)