AKIPRESS.COM - Eight people have been killed after a wall of mud and debris completely destroyed a small riverside neighborhood in north-western Washington state, The Guardian reported today.

At least 18 people are still missing, though authorities warned on Sunday night local time that there may be more unaccounted for.

The tally of missing was likely to grow, a spokesman for the Snohomish county sheriff's office said. The rescue mission was to halt at dusk because of treacherous, quicksand-like conditions, and would resume at dawn on Monday.

Some rescue workers had been mired in mud up to their armpits and had to be dragged to safety.

Several people, including an infant, were critically injured in the mudslide that hit Saturday morning about 55 miles north of Seattle. About 30 homes were destroyed.

Authorities believe the slide was caused by ground made unstable by recent heavy rainfall.