Ketchikan man survives landslide, home destroyed

James Montiver, 70, was resting on his sofa when he heard a loud roar and saw a bright flash of light on Sunday evening.

“The whole house shook like a roller coaster. It happened so fast. Suddenly, I was flying in the air,” he recounted from his hospital room.

The landslide that swept through Montiver’s Ketchikan neighbourhood threw him into the ceiling as his home collapsed. He sustained four fractured ribs and a dislocated shoulder but survived thanks to a small triangle of space created by the sofa.

This landslide in Ketchikan, southern Alaska, resulted in one death and three injuries. Officials have ordered residents to evacuate due to the risk of another slide.

Montiver took about 20 minutes to free himself from the wreckage, all the while calling out for his husband.

“I was so worried. I just had to get to Bill,” he said. The couple has been together for 42 years.

Bill Montiver, 65, was trapped in the kitchen. He was eventually freed by first responders who used chainsaws to cut through the debris.

“My husband was knocked on the head,” Montiver said, noting Bill avoided serious injury.

The Montivers’ home ended up in the basement, pushing their neighbour’s house off its foundation by about 2 feet.

Ketchikan Mayor Dave Kiffer remarked, “In my 65 years in Ketchikan, I have never seen a slide of this magnitude.”

The deceased, identified as Sean Griffin, was a senior maintenance technician at the City of Ketchikan Public Works. He had been cleaning storm drains when the slide occurred.

The landslide damaged multiple homes, businesses, and roadways around 4 p.m. on Sunday. The city confirmed that all residents have been accounted for but warned that the area remains unstable.

State and local geologists will assess the area for potential secondary slides. No activity will be allowed until geologists clear the area.

Heavy rainfall caused the landslide, with 5 to 9 inches of rain falling in the higher elevations of the Ketchikan Range over about 30 hours. The Ketchikan airport received 2.5 inches in the same period.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy issued a disaster emergency declaration for Ketchikan, directing state agencies to provide assistance.

“We lost absolutely everything,” Montiver said, noting he only had a pair of pants left. “I have no shoes, no glasses, no phone.”

The Montivers had just sold their house and were planning to move to Puerto Rico, but their insurance won’t cover the damage as flooding and landslides were excluded.

The couple remains hopeful their two dogs survived.

Emergency shelter is available at a local high school, and response crews are on standby. A joint local disaster emergency declaration was issued by city and borough officials.

The slide caused extensive damage, snapping trees, toppling power poles, and sending dirt crashing into homes. Power, phone, and internet outages occurred, though many services were restored by Sunday night. Some power poles remain unrepaired.

Photos showed roads blocked by downed trees and power poles. City Hall offices will be closed Monday.

Residents may experience traffic delays due to road closures near the evacuation area. A temporary flight restriction is in place to allow geologists and drone operators to assess the damage.

Ketchikan, a popular cruise ship stop, will still see ships docking, though some shore excursions may be changed or cancelled.

Alaska is severely impacted by climate change, facing rapid warming, thinning glaciers, melting permafrost, and less sea ice, making it prone to floods and landslides.

Ketchikan, with a population of about 14,000, lies along the southern part of Alaska’s Inside Passage, known for its stunning landscapes and salmon fishing.