Oregon mudslide hits homes, blocks road

PORTLAND -- A mudslide slammed into at least four homes and blocked a highway to the Oregon coast Tuesday in a region that was hit hard by last week's storms.

The slide of mud, trees and debris covered 5 acres and moved at least one home onto U.S. Highway 30, said Chris Friend of the Oregon Department of Forestry. Another home showed signs of giving way on its foundation, and a third had mud up to its windows.

No injuries were reported.

The slide was caused by a buildup of water and debris behind a railroad grade upstream in Eilertsen Creek. The abandoned railroad structure acted as a dam, and officials had been monitoring it for days.

On Monday, a technician determined it was a danger, and people were evacuated from their homes in the rural area. Officials tried to relieve the pressure on the structure but could not effectively do so.

It began to move Tuesday and the Oregon Department of Transportation closed the highway. Within an hour, the slide covered the highway and surrounding area just west of Clatskanie, between Portland and the coast.

One woman living above the slide was stranded in her home, where the driveway was wiped out by the mud. But officials say she is in no danger.

Several agencies worked to clear the area.