Confirmed death toll up to 18 in US mudslide, 30 missing

The confirmed death toll rose to 18 from a mudslide in the US state of Washington, while the number of missingin the week-old disaster was lowered to 30, dpa cited authorities as saying Saturday. The toll had been at 17 dead with 90 missing in the March 22 slide, which wiped out a logging village on a riverbank. Jason Biermann, programme manager for the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management, announced the updates, the Seattle Times reported. Another body was recovered Saturday but has not yet been added to the death toll, pending identification, Biermann said. Up to 10 bodies are still awaiting identification.