Naches landslide prompts evacuation

NACHES, Wash. — A massive and growing landslide Sunday morning blocked State Route 420, diverted the Naches River and heavily damaged one home. No injuries have been reported, but authorities tell the Yakima Herald-Republic that residents near the sparsely populated community of Nile were being evacuated because of flooding fears. Several homes received some water damage as the river sought a new course around the slide. The state Department of Transportation says the slide, estimated to be a half-mile long, covered the highway with at least 20 feet of dirt and rocks about 10 miles west of Naches. Department photos also show large sections of road carried down to the river. Pacific Power cut off electricity to about 800 residents after the slide damaged at least two power poles.