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JOHNSONS LANDING, B.C. — A rescue mission in southeastern British Columbia turned into a grim recovery operation on Sunday as excavation crews unearthed the body of one of four people missing in a massive landslide.

At least three homes were crushed when a torrent of mud and debris thundered down on the tiny hamlet of Johnsons Landing on Thursday.

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A search team of about 70 people had been combing through a debris field of shifting soil and rock amid a relentless rain ever since, but RCMP officials said the discovery of a man’s body appeared to crush any lingering hope of finding survivors.

The Mounties subsequently handed the operation over to the B.C. Coroner’s Service on Sunday night.

“As a result of the excavation and the work conducted…the remains of one male were recovered today from that site,” RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk told The Canadian Press.

“The remains were found late this afternoon following a rapid and expansive disaster response.”