The West 琉璃神社 RCMP has opened a missing person investigation as someone is believed to have last been in the area that was washed out by the Westside Road mudslide on April 1. 

After the mudslide washed out Westside Road, the RCMP were contacted anonymously and told that people experiencing homelessness had been living in the area that was impacted by the slide. The 琉璃神社-based Central Okanagan Search and Rescue team was then dispatched to the area. 

On April 2, a team of 13 COSAR volunteers searched the area for seven hours with a ground team, drones, a Search and Rescue dog named Barrett, and a boat crew. 

Ed Henczel, a spokesperson for COSAR, said that the team had never before searched a mudslide, but used their knowledge and training in swift water, avalanche and flood rescues in addition to guidance from other Search and Rescue teams to stay safe and search the area. He said that there was evidence that people had been sheltering in the area but it was unclear how recently the people had been there.

"There was a lot of debris. It's all rock, mud and trees and difficult to see anything," said Henczel. 

He said that Barrett, the team's search and rescue dog, alerted to a possible find at one point but the team did not uncover anything and after seven hours of searching, the area was deemed clear. 

Then, on April 7, police notified the public that unique items associated to a missing person have been found in the area of the mudslide. The exact location of where the items were found has not been made public. 

The Central Okanagan Search and Rescue team will be on-site searching the area on the afternoon of April 7 and on the morning of April 8.

The RCMP has stated that out of respect and privacy for the family of the missing person, their name will not be released at this time as it is an ongoing investigation.

Central Okanagan Emergency Operations has also released a warning for residents in the area and is asking that people monitor and manage waterways in light of the landslide on Westside Road and the recent sink hole located along the Bear Main Forestry Service Road.

"With the heavy rains today and more rain expected in the forecast, residents, particularly those adjacent to and within recently burned areas, are reminded to stay vigilant and familiarize themselves with their terrain and waterways. This includes monitoring and removing any materials collecting in culverts in front of their property to help reduce pooling and potential localized flooding."

"It is the responsibility of landowners to clear any debris that may settle in front of their property."
 
For more information on landslide preparedness, visit .
 
For Westside Road closure updates visit