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
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • International
      • #
    • 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
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • International
      • #
    • 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
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • 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
    • 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

Jamaican teacher jailed in US for allegedly showing student nude photos
Latest News, News
Jamaican teacher jailed in US for allegedly showing student nude photos
May 22, 2025
A Jamaican teacher is behind bars and facing the possibility of being deported to the island after allegedly showing nude photos of himself to one of ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer", "breaking-news":"Push Notifications"}
16-y-o St Hugh’s student returns home
Latest News, News
16-y-o St Hugh’s student returns home
May 22, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Sixteen-year-old Shaniqua Smith of St Hugh’s High School, who was reported missing on Friday, May 16, has returned home. The polic...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Record increase in Caribbean visitor arrivals to Jamaica — Bartlett
Latest News, News
Record increase in Caribbean visitor arrivals to Jamaica — Bartlett
May 22, 2025
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica recorded a 25.1 per cent year-over-year increase in arrivals from the Caribbean in 2024, according to Minister of Tourism,...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Mario Deane case handed over to jury for a verdict
Latest News, News
Mario Deane case handed over to jury for a verdict
May 22, 2025
WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — The seven-member jury hearing the trial of the three cops charged in the fatal beating of 31-year-old construction worker Mari...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Modric to leave Real Madrid after Club World Cup
Latest News, Sports
Modric to leave Real Madrid after Club World Cup
May 22, 2025
MADRID, Spain (AFP) -- Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Luka Modric said Thursday he will leave the Spanish giants after the Club World Cup this summ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
US man who killed wife and her kids executed by lethal injection
Latest News, News
US man who killed wife and her kids executed by lethal injection
May 22, 2025
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)— A man sentenced to death for the 1989 murder of his wife and her two sons was executed in Tennessee on Thursday, acco...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
US govt revokes Harvard’s right to enroll foreign students
International News, Latest News
US govt revokes Harvard’s right to enroll foreign students
May 22, 2025
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump's administration on Thursday revoked Harvard's right to enroll foreign nationals -- more than a quarter o...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Octogenarian left homeless by fire in Mount Salem
Latest News, News
Octogenarian left homeless by fire in Mount Salem
May 22, 2025
ST JAMES, Jamaica — An 85-year-old man was left homeless after fire destroyed his house in Mount Salem, St James on Thursday morning. The man, who liv...
{"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