Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Girl, 11, confirmed as fourth victim of Alaska landslide, two people still missing
FILE - This photo provided by the Alaska Department of Public Safety shows the landslide that occurred the previous evening near Wrangell, Alaska, Tuesday, November 21, 2023. Authorities recovered the body of Kara Heller, 11, Saturday evening, November 25, from the debris of a landslide in southeast Alaska that tore down a wooded mountainside, smashing into the homes in a remote fishing village Monday night, November 20. The girl is the fourth confirmed killed by the landslide from the Heller family. (Alaska Department of Public Safety via AP, File)
Latest News
November 26, 2023

Girl, 11, confirmed as fourth victim of Alaska landslide, two people still missing

WRANGELL, Alaska (AP) — Authorities recovered the body of an 11-year-old girl Saturday evening from the debris of a landslide in southeast Alaska that tore down a wooded mountainside days earlier, smashing into homes in a remote fishing village.

The girl, Kara Heller, was the fourth person confirmed killed by last Monday night’s landslide.

The girl’s parents Timothy Heller, 44 and Beth Heller, 36, and her sister Mara Heller, 16, were discovered and confirmed dead in the initial days after the landslide. Search crews are looking for a third child still missing from the Heller family, Derek, 12, and neighbour Otto Florschutz, 65, according to Tim DeSpain, a spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Public Safety.

Florschutz’s wife survived the disaster.

The landslide came down in the direct path of three homes near Wrangell, a fishing community of about 2,000 residents located on an island about 155 miles (250 kilometres) south of Juneau.

DeSpain said the latest victim was found under debris in the slide area. Authorities used trained dogs and an excavator to find and recover the remains.

Photos showed the aftermath of the slide, which occurred during significant rainfall and heavy winds: a stark dirt path estimated to be 450 feet (135 metres) wide running from the top of a nearby mountain down to the ocean in the middle of lush evergreen trees. The debris field covered the coastal highway before reaching the sea.

Troopers had initially said a large-scale search and rescue mission wasn’t possible because the site was unstable and hazardous. But a geologist from the state transportation department later cleared areas of the debris field for ground searches.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Machado urges pressure so Maduro understands ‘he has to go’
International News, Latest News
Machado urges pressure so Maduro understands ‘he has to go’
December 12, 2025
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—Venezuela's Nobel peace prize laureate Maria Corina Machado is urging more pressure on strongman Nicolas Maduro to for...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Ocho Rios advance to Ben Francis Cup quarter-finals
Latest News, Sports
Ocho Rios advance to Ben Francis Cup quarter-finals
December 12, 2025
ST ANN, Jamaica — Ocho Rios High became the second team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the ISSA Ben Francis Cup on Friday after clipping Old Har...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Herbert Morrison win six straight in ISSA Under-16 basketball
Latest News, Sports
Herbert Morrison win six straight in ISSA Under-16 basketball
BY PAUL A REID Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com 
December 12, 2025
ST ANN, Jamaica — Herbert Morrison Technical made it six straight wins in the ISSA Rural Area Under-16 Zone B basketball competition after beating Yor...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Latest News, News
Market Bag: Lower prices at ‘Curry’ offer Jamaicans slight reprieve
December 12, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Shoppers at the Coronation Market in downtown Kingston are breathing a sigh of relief this week amid lower food prices following w...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Caribbean countries urged to provide more funding for health sector
Latest News, Regional
Caribbean countries urged to provide more funding for health sector
December 12, 2025
WASHINGTON,United States (CMC)—The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is urging countries in the Americas, including the Caribbean, to strengthen...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Reggae Girlz jump to 39th in final FIFA rankings of 2025
Latest News, Sports
Reggae Girlz jump to 39th in final FIFA rankings of 2025
December 12, 2025
Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz will end the year as the 39th best country in world football, based on the latest FIFA rankings. The national senior women’s te...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Trinidadians arrested on multi-million dollar drug seizure
Latest News, Regional
Trinidadians arrested on multi-million dollar drug seizure
December 12, 2025
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The United States Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday said two Trinidadians have been arrested on charges of cons...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Three vehicles, motor vehicle parts recovered in St Catherine
Latest News, News
Three vehicles, motor vehicle parts recovered in St Catherine
BY KEDIESHA PERRY Observer writer 
December 12, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Three vehicles, along with motor vehicle parts were recovered during an intelligence-led operation by the St Catherine North police ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct