Man rescued from Seattle landslide as rain and snow batter Washington

A man has in Seattle’s Magnolia neighbourhood was rescued by Seattle firefighters on January 7 after he got stuck in the basement of his house, which “slid 15-20 feet off its foundation” during a landslide.

Commenting on the rescue, the Seattle Fire Department put out a statement, saying, “The steep slope area behind the house had slid likely as a result of high levels of precipitation which resulted in the top floor of the structure partially collapsing on top of the daylight basement.”

The firefighters were able to pull off the rescue in the nick of time as there was also a “fire involving propane tanks on the back side of the house.” However, the rescue was far from easy as firefighters had to use “hydraulic struts to shore the structure” and “simultaneously work to extinguish a fire” to rescue the man, who was trapped underneath debris.

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Another woman, who was in the upper level of the house, managed to escape on her own, said the Seattle Fire Department. Firefighters said that they attempted to rescue two dogs who were trapped underneath the house, but one of them had died by the time the rescue team managed to clear the debris.

Both the rescued man and woman have been admitted to the Harborview Medical Center for medical attention and the extent of their injuries, if any, are not known.

The news comes at a time when the state of Washington has been battered by incessant rain and snow, and the state reported record levels of precipitation on Thursday in several cities.

Already, the residents of the Skokomish Valley area of Mason County, around 40 miles from Seattle, are being evacuated due to rising water levels and imminent flooding.

In view of the situation, the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections has warned residents that the high levels of precipitation are likely to increase the chances of landslides, and has asked residents to take appropriate precautions.