For locals, the heartbreak feels all too familiar. Landslides, floods, and unpredictable mountain weather are part of life in British Columbia’s rugged terrain. But each tragedy hits differently. Candlelight vigils now line the streets, and messages of love and remembrance flood social media. “We thought they’d make it home,” one relative said, recalling the final text from a loved one: “Almost home.”
Experts say the disaster is a warning that can’t be ignored. As climate change fuels heavier rainfall and faster snowmelt, the risk of landslides across B.C. continues to rise. The 2021 floods devastated the same region—and now, just a few years later, the mountain has claimed more lives.
Officials have closed Highway 99 indefinitely while engineers assess the damage and work to stabilize the slope. Helicopters survey the site daily, and geotechnical teams are exploring new safety measures like barriers, drainage improvements, and slope reinforcements. Still, many residents know that no amount of engineering can fully tame nature’s power.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed condolences, calling the rescue crews’ efforts “heroic” and the tragedy “a painful reminder of nature’s unpredictability.” Across Canada, people have offered words of support, donations, and prayers for the families affected.
For those who call Lillooet home, the tragedy is personal. It’s a reminder that life in the mountains carries both breathtaking beauty and unforgiving danger. The same slopes that inspire awe can, in a moment, turn deadly.
In time, the road will reopen. Cars will again glide along the Sea-to-Sky, the mountains reflecting against the water as if nothing happened. But for the families who lost someone there, that view will never look the same. Beneath the beauty lies memory—of lives interrupted and a community forever changed.
💔 Let’s take a moment to honor the victims of the Highway 99 tragedy. Share this story to raise awareness about safety, preparedness, and respect for nature’s power.