The death toll in the mudslide that devastated communities in rural parts of Washington state went up to 34 on Tuesday, as another body was discovered buried in the rubble.
Reuters reports that a large portion of a hillside above the Stillaguamish River on March 22. The ensuing avalanche of mud and rock engulfed about three dozen homes in the tiny town of Oso.
According to The Seattle Pi, President Obama plans to visit the affected community later in the month on April 22 to survey damage and visit the victims and their families.
Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., spoke to Obama concerning his visit and continued assistance to the survivors from the Federal Emergency Management Association.
Currently 30 of the deceased have been identified, but the identities of the other four are still unknown. A dozen others are still listed on as missing following the slide, which also partially dammed a river and covered a state highway.
Police continue to search for the missing, including three children, but recovery efforts have been hampered by persistent rain. Rescue teams have found no signs of life in the rubble, and none of those buried have been pulled out alive.