Washington mudslide death toll reaches 27. PHOTOGRAPH BY GOV. JAY INSLEE'S OFFICE, HANDOUT/ REUTERS

The number of confirmed dead in the Washington mudslide rose to 27 Tuesday morning, with many still unaccounted for and three more victims found on Monday. However, the unofficial death toll account is currently at 32 with the unsettling discovery of hard to identify bodies. The county sheriff's office also released a list Monday evening of the 22 believed still missing in the Washington landslide that destroyed a rural mountainside community northeast of Seattle March 22nd. 

On average Seattle received 3.72 inches of rainfall in March, but recorded 9.44 inches for the month, according to weather.com senior meteorologist Jon Erdman. This increase of rainfall made the area more susceptible to mudslides. Steve Harris, a division supervisor for the search effort, said that search teams have been learning more about the cause and force of the slide and the knowledge has helped them more efficiently locate victims in a debris field with some 70 feet deep pockets. 

Total damage and estimates of the landslide equal $7 million lost in structures and at least $3 million in their contents. Current requests seek federal help with funeral expenses, and mental health care programs for survivors, volunteers, community members and first responders.

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Rescue dogs are also among the search teams working long and cold hours in the rain. These dogs are the primary tool for finding victims, while searchers are finding human remains four to six times per day. Thankfully, the pups were given a 2 day break after all of their hard work because if worked too hard the dogs could lose their incredible sensing capability to find victims. 

Check out some of the hardworking Washington Mudslide Rescue Dogs in action:

JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

Rick Wilking/Reuters

Rick Wilking/Reuters

workers and search dog lead the search jason redmond/reuters photo

Read more about the mudslide here