4 people are unaccounted for with several homes buried in mud and debris near Johnson’s Landing on the east side of Kootenay Lake across from Kaslo.

To get to the remote area you must access it from the north end of the lake and go south from Argenta.

Up to six people are unaccounted for, one home is destroyed and two more houses are damaged after a landslide occurred at 10:30 am near Johnson’s Landing, located at the north end of Kootenay Lake. The small community is about an hour’s drive from Kaslo.

Officials with the Central Kootenay Regional District say they do not know if the missing people were home at the time of the slide. Mounties and search and rescue crews from Kaslo and Nelson are on scene.

Nearby residents heard a loud rumbling sound and then saw tonnes of mud and debris crash down into the lake.

RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk says police have sent a helicopter to the area.

“The RCMP southeast district air services helicopter is en route, Kaslo  detachment is the detachment of police jurisdiction in the area with assistance  being given with resources from the Regional Kootenay Boundary Detachment,” he said.

The community of Johnson’s Landing has a population of just  35 residents. Last month, the lake reached its highest peak in 40 years due to heavy rainfall and accumulation of run-off.