The body of a fifth victim from a Nov. 20 landslide in Wrangell was found Thursday afternoon, with one more person still missing, the Alaska Department of Public Safety announced Friday morning.
Otto Florschutz, 65, was found at about 4:25 p.m. Thursday in the debris from the landslide that occurred about 11 miles south of the center of Wrangell. His wife, Christina Florschutz, survived after being caught in the landslide that destroyed three homes and cut dozens of others off from road access to town.
[Elementary school aide who survived Wrangell landslide calls circumstances a miracle]
The other five victims were family members. Timothy Heller, 44, Beth Heller, 36, and Mara Heller, 16, were found during searches the night of the landslide and the morning afterward. Kara Heller, 11, was located last Saturday. Still missing is Derek Heller, 12.
“Search and Rescue volunteers and a scent detection K9 team continue with reactive searching as any new information or evidence leads to a specific search area,” the Department of Public Safety statement notes.
Power was restored earlier this week to homes cut off by the landslide and residents are now able to drive through the slide zone during scheduled 30-minute windows, according to public safety officials.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
