Landslide rips through BC wine country

Photo of Testalinden Creek mudslide in Oliver, BC – Photo: Globe & Mail

A landslide came crashing down the slopes of the south Okanagan's Golden Mile bench on Sunday, tearing out homes and farm fields. Up to ten buildings were destroyed and the main route – Highway 97 – has been temporarily closed for the next few days. Tonnes of mud slid down the hillside along the route of Testalinden Creek after an earth dam broke at the top of the hillside.

Testalinden Creek is just south of Road 13 Vineyards. While the slide did not appear to rip through a working winery, there was vineyard and orchard damage that has devasted several local residents. Fortunately there are no reported injuries or deaths. The amount of clean-up of the surrounding area is considerable, with hills of mud up to six feet deep and up to 200 metres wide in places.

The Globe and Mail speaks with Road 13's Mike Luckhurst in their report –

Earlier Sunday, when Mick Luckhurst first heard the cracking branches on the hillside near his yard, he thought a tractor was at work removing foliage.

Then he turned around and saw trees falling like bowling pins, as a massive mudslide covered the hill just a half-kilometre away. A torrent of dirt and debris flowed down the hill, taking out his friend's house.

“It just exploded off the foundations,” Mr. Luckhurst said. “The power of the mud and water was mind-boggling,” he said.

CTV BC has a report on the slide which features an interview with Bruce Fuller of Rustico Winery, another nearby resident. BCWineLover.com will feature photos from the area later this summer when we return to visit the area in July.

See more on this story plus a photo gallery at VancouverSun.com.