The search for survivors of a deadly Washington state mudslide grew Monday to include 108 names of people who were reported missing or were unaccounted for, but authorities cautioned the figure likely would decline dramatically. Still, the size of the list raised concerns the death toll would rise far above the eight people who have been confirmed killed after the mudslide Saturday swept through part of a former fishing village about 90 kilometers northeast of Seattle. On Sunday night, the number of missing was 18, but by Monday morning, various agencies had collected reports-some specific and others vague-of 108 people who remained unaccounted for after the disaster, said Snohomish County emergency director John Pennington. Pennington said the figure was likely to decline as survivors initially reported as missing eventually make contact with family members and local authorities, or as some reports are found to have duplicated others. But authorities were doubtful of the chances of finding anyone else alive in the debris and mud that it up to 5 meters deep. "The situation is very grim," Snohomish County Fire District 21 Chief Travis Hots said. "We have not found anyone alive on this pile since Saturday."
