Somerset Landslide: Work Continues To Return Families To Homes

BELLEVUE, WA — Work continues to make several homes in Bellevue's Somerset neighborhood safe for residents to return to following flooding and a landslide that swept one home off its foundation on Monday. City officials shared the latest updates on their work during a news briefing Tuesday afternoon.

The first 911 calls reported water flowing downhill and onto the roads in the neighborhood around 4 a.m. Monday, officials said. As help arrived at 139th Place Southeast and Southeast 51st Place, first responders reported one home had partially collapsed with the occupants still inside. Three police officers rescued the couple and their dog from the home and helped evacuate dozens of neighbors from 15 surrounding properties.

Bellevue utility officials confirmed the rush of water originated from a broken water main, but an investigation continues into what caused the 8-inch pipe to break and what specifically caused the landslide, officials said. A full investigation involving several agencies could take several months to complete.

As of Wednesday, the city said it still did not have a timeline for when seven families could return to their homes, with crews still assessing the best way to ensure the scene is safe. All seven homes remain "red-tagged," and city staffers have been keeping close contact with the families and offering them assistance, officials said."

"A big priority of ours is safety and we want to be certain this area is safe for residents, pedestrians and vehicles in the area, so we are working as quickly as possible to assess this scene and get the remaining residents back in their homes if that's possible," said Brad Miyake, Bellevue's City Manager. "We're grateful for the neighbors here who watch out for each other and raised the alarm in the early morning hours, and to our first responders who were able to make sure everyone was able to get out safely."

In a news release Wednesday, officials said the city's Development Services Department was still evaluating the safety and stability of the affected area and working with the homeowners of the house that partially collapsed to remove any surviving hazards.

The area around the homes remained closed to traffic Wednesday, and the city asked drivers to continue avoiding the area until further notice. The city will continue to provide updates as they are available, and those impacted directly by the incident can direct questions to Neighborhood Services at 425-452-2735.