SALEM, Va. – Flooding was not the only problem across southwest Virginia on Wednesday as a landslide closed part of a road in Salem.
The 2400 block of Franklin Street was temporarily closed, according to Salem Fire-EMS. That stretch is not far from where Franklin Street meets Tyler Way and Poff Lane.
Daniel Lam lives across the street from the landslide and said he was sitting on his front porch Wednesday morning when it happened.
“(I) came out to have my morning coffee and all of a sudden the land just started moving. The whole point of the mountain started sliding down, trees falling everywhere," said Lam. "Luckily, it missed the power lines. It was pretty dramatic. I have never seen anything like that before in my life.”
Salem Fire-EMS instructed drivers to find a detour if they were trying to access Upland Drive or any points past the closure.
The 2400 Block of Franklin Street is closed to thru traffic due to a landslide that has blocked the roadway. Please find a detour if you are accessing Upland Drive and any points past that closure. pic.twitter.com/P9yZtj1YfV
— Salem (VA) Fire-EMS (@SalemVAFireEMS) May 20, 2020