The victim of a deadly mudslide that swept away a Coquitlam home amid the downpour of the atmospheric river Saturday has been identified.
Canada Task Force 1 — Urban Search and Rescue and Coquitlam Fire and Rescue found the 57-year-old woman on Sunday evening, the Coquitlam RCMP shared on Monday.
The woman has been identified as Sonya McIntyre, a teacher at Aspenwood Elementary.
Mounties say on Saturday, Oct. 19, they received reports of the mudslide on Quarry Road between Calgary Drive and MacIntyre Road.
“This is a deeply tragic outcome and our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends,” said Corp. Alexa Hodgins. “We would like to thank Canada Task Force 1 – Urban Search and Rescue and Coquitlam Fire and Rescue for their search efforts and locating the victim.”
Officials from School District No. 43 in Coquitlam helped identify McIntyre Monday, saying its priority now is to support students and staff at the school where she was a “valued teacher.”
The school district says supports will be in place as long as necessary.
Coquitlam itself recorded more than 250 millimetres of rain on Oct. 19, with most of the Lower Mainland and B.C.’s South Coast seeing between 100 and 200 mm during the atmospheric river event.
The massive three-day storm broke 12 one-day rainfall records in B.C.
Quarry Road remains closed as the mudslide has rendered the street unpassable, “which has affected several residents on the other side of the slide,” Hodgins shared on Sunday.
“First responders are in contact with the residents and confirmed that [they] are able to shelter in place, but there is no updated timeline as to when the road will be cleared.”
Mounties say McIntyre’s family has been notified.