A sequence of mudslides has obstructed the South Klondike Highway below Carcross, Yukon, leading to the suspension of road travel connecting the territory with the southeastern Alaskan town of Skagway. The closure spans from kilometre 106 to 24, as announced by the Yukon Department of Highways and Public Works through a Facebook update on Tuesday evening. This closure effectively shuts down the highway route from Carcross extending into northern British Columbia and reaching down to the U.S.-Canada border.
The department confirmed that multiple mudslides occurred, with assessment operations slated to commence on Wednesday morning. Authorities stated that no vehicles were involved in the mudslides, according to alerts from the Skagway Police Department. However, the closure has left at least two cruise ship passenger tour buses stranded.
Reports from the police department indicated that the mudslides would require an extended period for clearance, possibly lasting several days. Due to the unstable mountainside conditions, road clearance is pending evaluation by a geologist. Skagway police communicated that a partial reopening of the highway will occur on Wednesday, allowing tours from the international border up to the Yukon-B.C. border, but restricting traffic beyond kilometre 80.