The Tatsuda’s IGA building in Ketchikan, Alaska was condemned Feb. 27, 2020, after it was struck early Thursday morning by a rockslide. The main portion of the slide hit the northeast corner of the building which collapsed part of the roof and ruptured a water main causing extensive damage to both the interior and exterior. (Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News via AP)

The Tatsuda’s IGA building in Ketchikan, Alaska was condemned Feb. 27, 2020, after it was struck early Thursday morning by a rockslide. The main portion of the slide hit the northeast corner of the building which collapsed part of the roof and ruptured a water main causing extensive damage to both the interior and exterior. (Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News via AP)

Landslide demolishes Alaska grocery store

  • Thursday, February 27, 2020 6:15pm
  • News

KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) — A landslide in a city near the southern tip of the Alaska Panhandle demolished the back side of a grocery store.

No one was injured early Thursday when the landslide took out the back wall of Tatsuda’s IGA in Ketchikan, the Ketchikan Daily News reported. The building suffered severe enough damage to be condemned.

Rock, dirt and trees knocked over shelves and pushed ceiling beams out of place. The impact ruptured the sprinkler system, affecting the entire structure, including an attached liquor store, city public works director Mark Hilson said.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“Trees, rocks, overburden came down, went right in the store,” Hilson said. “Blew out the back wall, came in through the roof, through the aisles, structurally damaged it. The impact of the rock falling, dirt falling, trees falling, blew out the insulation, the soffit, some windows.”

Behind the store, nothing is visible but rock, he said.

“It looks like a rock pile,” Hilson said. “It’s just rock piled up.”

The last employee left the store at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. Emergency responders received a call about the slide just before 1 a.m. from a security company. The slide set off a fire alarm. The store owners were there when firefighters arrived, fire marshal Andrea Buchanan said.

Water and structural damage was apparent when firefighters entered the building, Buchanan said, both to load-bearing walls and the roof system.

“I saw trees that had come off like, I would say, from the top of the cliff or rock wall, had penetrated through the roof of the building,” Buchanan said.

Bill Tatsuda owns the store with his daughter, Katherine. In a social media message, Katherine Tatsuda said they were glad the slide occurred when no one was in the store. There is no timetable for reopening, her father said.

“It looks like it’s going to be an awful long time, if ever, reopening the store,” Bill Tatsuda said in an interview.

The store employed about 25 people. Workers helped move salvageable products into a refrigeration unit.

“Store’s been there 46 years, and we’ve been very fortunate that this hasn’t happened before to this degree,” Tatsuda said. “And, you know, I personally have been there the whole time and have had a very good ride with this thing. Just unfortunate that it’s come to such a sudden end.”

Ketchikan is a city of 8,150 on the southwestern coast of Revillagigedo Island, about 690 miles (1,110 kilometers) north of Seattle. It’s the first Alaska port of call for cruise ships and state ferries. The city is known for its waterfront and the steep, forested terrain that rises behind homes.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 1

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

A shelter staff member takes a dog who is currently boarding at Juneau Animal Rescue outside on Feb. 13, 2025. The animal shelter needs more space both outside and in, according to the executive director. It could also use a guillotine door to allow dogs easier access to the outdoors. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Animal Rescue hopes to be ‘feline’ the love at annual fundraiser

The shelter is still in need of a new building and hopes to continue educating the community.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

A building directory in Juneau’s federal building lists departments, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Forest Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Mass firings ordered by Trump administration, including nearly 10% of U.S. Forest Service

HUD plans 50% staff cut, scrutiny of “every dollar spent in serving tribal, rural and urban communities.”

Former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola speaks at the Alaska Democratic Party’s state convention on May 18, 2024, at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Report: Former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola likely to run for governor in 2026

Democrat ousted in November would likely face crowded field in open race for Alaska’s top spot.

Meilani Schijvens, owner of Rain Coast Data, discusses regional economic data complied by her company during Southeast Conference’s Mid-Season Summit at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Five-year economic plan for Southeast suggests spending $300M to address top priority of housing

Other top goals include boosting seafood marketing, renewable energy, locally-owned tourism enterprises

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Monday, Feb. 10, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read