The BC Coroners Service has announced it will resume recovery efforts at the site of the mudslide at Johnsons Landing in the west Kootenay.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says that searchers with the help of heavy excavation machinery will spend two further days working in the area near the site of the former home of the Webber family.

The bodies of Valentine Webber, 60, and his daughter Diana, 22, were recovered from the area near the home in a search conducted last week. Mr. Webber's younger daughter, Rachel, 17, remains missing and is believed to be in the same area.

The BC Coroners Service paused its recovery efforts on July 18 while a reassessment took place as to both the realistic possibility of success and the safety of the site for the searchers.

That reassessment was completed on July 23 with the conclusion that there is a possibility that the missing girl could be found near where her family members were located. As a result, the further two days of searching have been authorized.

It is expected that the resumed search will take place later this week.

German national, Petra Frehse, aged 64, also remains missing. The technical experts have reluctantly concluded, however, that there is no reasonable possibility of success of locating her near where her home had stood. Ms. Frehse's home was higher up the mountain than the Webber residence, and as a result, was more severely impacted by the full force of the slide.

Contact:

Barbara McLintock
Coroner, Strategic Programs
BC Coroners Service
250 356-9253