Mar 28, 2014

Washington state officials say the confirmed death toll from a massive mudslide was likely to rise sharply from 25 on Friday as residents accused local authorities of a slow early response to the disaster that had cost lives.

: This photo obtained March 25, 2014, courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation shows an aerial view of the Stillguamish River and SR 530 taken near Oso, Washington, on March 22, 2014. The death toll from the devastating US landslide remained at 14 on March 25, 2014, but was expected to rise with more than 150 people listed missing, as the National Guard joined the massive rescue effort.The number of people unaccounted for after Saturday’s disaster in the tiny town of Oso in Washington state still stood at 176, although officials stressed that the figure should not be taken as a death toll. (Washington State Department of Transportation/Getty)

: This photo obtained March 25, 2014, courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation shows the Stillaguamish dam breach at SR 530, created after the landslide near Oso, Washington, on March 22, 2014. The death toll from the devastating US landslide remained at 14 on March 25, 2014, but was expected to rise with more than 150 people listed missing, as the National Guard joined the massive rescue effort.The number of people unaccounted for after Saturday’s disaster in the tiny town of Oso in Washington state still stood at 176, although officials stressed that the figure should not be taken as a death toll. (Washington DOT/Getty)

: This photo obtained March 26, 2014, courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation shows state road(SR) 530 covered in mud from a landslide in Oso, Washington, on March 22, 2014. Rescuers digging through the debris of a monster US landslide found another 10 bodies March 26, 2014, officials said, bringing the death toll to 24 with potentially more than 170 still unaccounted for. A day of rain hampered efforts to find survivors in the vast pile of mud and timber which crashed into the tiny town of Oso on Saturday. (Washington DOT/Getty Images)

: Longtime resident Lewis Cope inspects an aerial photo of areas that were affected by the landslide after a rain-soaked hillside collapsed on Saturday at the Community Center in Darrington, Washington March 25, 2014. The likely death toll from a devastating weekend landslide in Washington state rose to 24 on Tuesday after rescue workers recovered two bodies and believed they had located eight more, the local fire chief said. (Jason Redmond/Reuters)

: A woman cries during the singing of Amazing Grace at a candlelight vigil for mudslide victims in Arlington, Washington March 25, 2014. The likely death toll from a devastating weekend landslide in Washington state rose to 24 on Tuesday after rescue workers recovered two bodies and believed they had located eight more, the local fire chief said. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: Sarah Halstead (R) comforts her daughter Allison at a candlelight vigil for mudslide victims in Arlington, Washington March 25, 2014. The likely death toll from a devastating weekend landslide in Washington state rose to 24 on Tuesday after rescue workers recovered two bodies and believed they had located eight more, the local fire chief said. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

: An aerial photo shows landslide in northwest Washington that occurred on March 22, 2014 taken during an aerial survey conducted by the Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Geological Survey, and King County Sheriff’s Office on March 24, 2014. The death toll from a massive landslide in Washington state stood at 24 on March 26, 2014, but the mud-stricken community braced for a higher body count as search teams combed through debris looking for scores of people still missing four days after the disaster. Picture taken March 24, 2014. (King County Sheriff’s Office/Handout )An aerial photo shows landslide in northwest Washington that occurred on March 22, 2014 taken during an aerial survey conducted by the Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Geological Survey, and King County Sheriff’s Office on March 24, 2014. The death toll from a massive landslide in Washington state stood at 24 on March 26, 2014, but the mud-stricken community braced for a higher body count as search teams combed through debris looking for scores of people still missing four days after the disaster. Picture taken March 24, 2014. (King County Sheriff’s Office/Handout )

: The rainfall-triggered landslide which sent muddy debris spilling across the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, near Oso, Washington is seen in a NASA Earth Observatory image from the Landsat 8 satellite taken March 23, 2014. Washington State officials were hoping on Wednesday to cut the numbers on a list of scores of people missing after a weekend landslide, one of the deadliest in recent U.S. history, that has killed an estimated 24 people. (NASA Earth Observatory/Handout via Reuters)

: A telephone handset is covered in mud as a landslide blocks Highway 530 near Oso, Washington, March 23, 2014. (Lindsey Wasson/Pool/Reuters)

: An aerial view of the area affected by a landslide near State Route 530 is seen in this handout photo provided by the Governor Jay Inslee’s office taken near Oso, Washington, March 23, 2014. (Gov. Jay Inslee’s office/Handout photo via Reuters)

: A emergency vehicle is parked as a landslide and debris block Highway 530 near Oso, Washington March 23, 2014. (Lindsey Wasson/Pool/Reuters)

: A emergency vehicle is parked as a landslide and debris block Highway 530 near Oso, Washington March 23, 2014. (Lindsey Wasson/Pool/Reuters)

: A landslide and structural debris blocks Highway 530 near Oso, Washington March 23, 2014. (Lindsey Wasson/Pool/Reuters)

: A Snohomish County Sheriff helicopter flies over the scene on Highway 530 next to mile marker 37 on Sunday, March 23, 2014, the day after a giant landslide occurred near mile marker 37 near Oso, Washington. (Lindsey Wasson/Seattle Times/MCT Photo)

: Concerned citizens listen to Washington Governor Jay Inslee addressing the media in Arlington, Washington as rescuers search for people still missing from a landslide, March 23, 2014. (Jason Redmond/Reuters)

: Washington Governor Jay Inslee (right) talks with Barbara Welsh, whose uncle is missing, in Arlington, Washington as rescuers search for people still missing from a landslide, March 23, 2014. (Jason Redmond/Reuters)

: Area resident Janice Dean looks at a map showing where a massive landslide has covered homes and part of Highway 530 in Arlington, Washington, March 23, 2014. (Jason Redmond/Reuters)

: The Oso Community Chapel is pictured near the area where a landslide blocks Highway 530 near Oso, Washington, March 23, 2014. (Lindsey Wasson/Pool/Reuters)

: Workers observe the Stillaguamish River near the area where a landslide blocks Highway 530 near Oso, Washington, March 23, 2014. (Lindsey Wasson/Pool/Reuters)

: A steady stream of mud and water flows away from the mudslide blocking the road on Highway 530 next to mile marker 37 on Sunday, March 23, 2014, the day after a giant landslide occurred near Oso, Washington. The nearby Stillaguamish River has been dammed up by 15-20 feet of debris as a result, creating more flooding concerns, as reported by KING 5 via the state hydrologist. (Lindsey Wasson/Seattle Times/MCT)

: Snohomish County Sheriff officers monitor the scene a short ways up the road from the mudslide at mile 37 on Highway 530 on Sunday, March 23, 2014, the day after a giant landslide occurred near Oso, Washington. (Lindsey Wasson/Seattle Times/MCT)

: Officials survey a large mudslide in this handout photo provided by the Washington State Police near Oso, Washington, March 22, 2014. The mudslide pushed debris and at least one house onto Highway 530 near Oso Saturday morning, according to local news reports. Search and rescue crews were responding to the scene. (Washington State Police/Handout via Reuters)

: A general view of the area affected by a landslide near State Route 530 is seen in this Washington State Department of Transportation handout picture taken near Oso, Washington, March 22, 2014. (Washington State Department of Transportation/Handout via Reuters)

: A view of the hillside that gave way and collapsed near State Route 530 is seen in this Washington State Department of Transportation picture taken near Oso, Washington, March 22, 2014. At least three people died and at least eight others were injured on Saturday in a landslide that destroyed six or more homes along a state highway in northwest Washington state, officials said. (Washington State Department of Transportation/Handout via Reuters)

: A general view of the area affected by a landslide near State Route 530 is seen in this Washington State Department of Transportation handout picture taken near Oso, Washington, March 22, 2014. Three people died and at least eight others were injured on Saturday in a landslide that destroyed six or more homes along a state highway in northwest Washington state, officials said. (Washington State Department of Transportation/Handout via Reuters)

: Officials and cars line the highway at the site of a large mudslide in this handout photo provided by the Washington State Police near Oso, Washington, March 22, 2014. (Washington State Police/Handout via Reuters)

: Officials survey a large mudslide in this handout photo provided by the Washington State Police near Oso, Washington, March 22, 2014. (Washington State Police/Handout via Reuters)

: Emergency personnel instruct a resident to evacuate because of flooding concerns after a large mudslide blocked Highway 530 near Oso, Washington March 22, 2014. (Jason Redmond/Reuters)

: An emergency worker instructs vehicles to turn around after a large mudslide blocked Highway 530 near Oso, Washington, March 22, 2014. Three people died and at least eight others were injured on Saturday in a landslide that destroyed six or more homes along a state highway in northwest Washington state, officials said. (Jason Redmond/Reuters)

: Members of a swift water rescue team look on as an ambulance drives past after a large mudslide blocked Highway 530 near Oso, Washington, March 22, 2014. Three people died and at least eight others were injured on Saturday in a landslide that destroyed six or more homes along a state highway in northwest Washington state, officials said. (Jason Redmond/Reuters)

: Members of a swift water rescue team huddle as an ambulance heads in the direction of a large mudslide that has blocked Highway 530 near Oso, Washington March 22, 2014. Three people died and at least eight others were injured on Saturday in a landslide that destroyed six or more homes along a state highway in northwest Washington state, officials said. (Jason Redmond/Reuters)

: Members of a swift water rescue team monitor radio traffic after a large mudslide blocked Highway 530 near Oso, Washington, March 22, 2014. (Jason Redmond/Reuters)

A rain-soaked hillside collapsed on Saturday, unleashing a deluge of mud on dozens of homes in a river valley near the rural town of Oso, in Snohomish County, some 55 miles northeast of Seattle.

Authorities fear that some of the 90 still missing might never be found in the square-mile heap of mud-caked debris and muck. Officials were expected to revise casualty tolls during a press conference at 9 a.m. local time on Friday.

“In the next 24 to 48 hours, as the medical examiner’s office catches up with the difficult work that they have to do, you’re going to see these numbers increase substantially,” fire district chief Travis Hots said on Thursday.

An estimated 180 people lived in the path of the landslide.

Washington state mudslide death toll expected to rise sharply from 25

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