US mudslide death toll climbs to 28

US-mudslide

An American flag hangs from the only cedar post left standing at the scene of a deadly mudslide, Monday, March 31, 2014, in Oso, Wash. AP

ARLINGTON, Washington—The official death toll from Washington state’s mudslide has increased to 28, and the Snohomish County medical examiner’s office says 22 of those victims have been identified.

That’s up from 27 dead with 19 identified on Tuesday morning.

The latest names added to the victims list are 65-year-old Thom E. Satterlee, 60-year-old Lon E. Slauson and 23-year-old Adam Farnes. Like the rest, they died of blunt force injuries suffered in the March 22 slide northeast of Seattle.

Satterlee and Slauson had been on the missing list. Officials say the number of people who are missing now stands at 20.

Officials say receding floodwaters near the rural community of Oso are helping in the search for human remains by exposing more sites that can be examined.

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