Death toll in Washington mudslide rises to 24

Emergency officials said the death toll in a massive mudslide in rural Washington has risen to 24 with the discovery of ten more bodies Tuesday.

Two more fatalities were recovered Tuesday and another eight found but not yet recovered, in addition to the 14 deaths already reported, according to Snohomish County Fire District 21 Chief Travis Hots.

The mudslide, which struck the town of Oso on Saturday morning, also resulted in as many as 176 missing person reports, but officials said they could not tell how many were duplicates.

Hots said earlier authorities offer their “deepest sympathies and condolences to the families affected by this disaster.” 

There are 156 people in the field looking for anyone who may be trapped under rubble, Hots said, but rain forecast for Tuesday afternoon could hamper search efforts. A 50-member National Guard team is also en route to the area.

Earlier in the day, officials looking to narrow the number of people unaccounted for said the operation is now shifting from a rescue effort to a recovery mission.

ANN.Az