Mudslide Near Fall City Prompts Voluntary Evacuations

FALL CITY, WA — A mudslide near Fall City prompted county officials to recommend evacuations for some residents Monday afternoon, out of an abundance of caution. The sheriff's office said the slide was situated along 356th Drive Southeast, near State Route 202. King County officials said those living close to the slide area should evacuate, or risk being in isolation until the slide is cleared.

"Access may be cut off at any time," the county posted on Twitter.

According to King County Road Services, the slide was moving slowly undernearth 356th Drive Southeast, and the evacuations were recommended because the road is the sole access point for a nearby neighborhood. Officials said the road remained open, but a photo posted on social media showed several cracks had formed. Officials did not expect slide impacts on SR 202.

Soil experts will visit the area Tuesday to determine the next steps. The county said there was no estimate for when the land movement would end. Information on the total size of the slide area was not immediately available.

Q13 News reports dozens of residents received reverse 911 calls and warning texts urging evacuation at 2:30 p.m.

Several mudslides have impacted Western Washington since heavy rains late last week. All roads leading to Mount Rainier remained closed Monday, and another slide cut off a Snohomish County neighborhood near Monroe.