DHAKA: The death toll rose to four and 18 people were missing on Sunday from a landslide in Washington state that buried homes and cars under mud and debris up to 5m deep, authorities said.

Eight people were also injured when rain-soaked embankments along State Route 530 near Oso, Washington, about 90km northeast of Seattle, gave way on Saturday morning and washed out at least six homes.

Snohomish County Fire District 21 Chief Travis Hots said rescuers had found a fourth victim, but they had yet to recover the body.

‘I am disappointed to tell you that after searching a very large area of that debris field on foot, we didn`t find anybody alive. There was no sign of life,’ Hots told a televised news conference, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1232 HRS, MAR 24, 2014