For families who lost loved ones in Lillooet, the grief is overwhelming. One woman who lost her cousin described the painful wait for updates: “You know in your heart they’re gone, but you still hope. Every call, every update—it tears you apart.”
B.C. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe expressed condolences, acknowledging the devastating impact: “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families mourning the sudden and unexpected loss of their loved ones, and to the family of the missing person we have yet to locate.”
Mudslides like this occur when saturated soil on steep slopes collapses, rushing downhill with destructive force. Experts warn that deforestation, wildfires, and more frequent extreme weather events are increasing the risk across British Columbia.
The human stories make the loss even more painful. Among the dead was a volunteer youth soccer coach and a truck driver who regularly delivered supplies along Highway 99. A vigil at the local high school saw students light candles and share memories, underscoring the community’s deep bonds.
The closure of Highway 99 highlights the fragility of infrastructure in mountain regions, while local churches and neighbors have rallied to provide shelter, food, and comfort. “When one family suffers, we all suffer,” said the town’s mayor. “But we will also rise together.”
Investigations into the causes will take months, but for those left behind, answers cannot undo the loss. As one grieving father said: “I don’t want answers for me—I already lost my boy. I want answers so no one else has to go through this.”
The mudslide in Lillooet is more than a natural disaster—it is a human story of lives cut short, families shattered, and a community leaning on one another for strength. The road will be cleared, and the earth will heal, but the memories of September 2025 will remain forever etched in their hearts.
