( CNN ) -- [ Breaking news update , Sunday , 3:20 a.m. ] . People were crying out for help from underneath debris early Sunday after a landslide in Washington state , said City of Arlington fire Capt . Brandon Asher . Rescuers are trying to forge through the wreckage to get to them . [ Original story , Saturday , 11:49 pm. ] . 3 killed , 3 critically injured in Washington state landslide . ( CNN ) -- A devastating landslide Saturday killed three people , cut off a small town and a river and prompted an evacuation notice for fear of a potentially `` catastrophic flood event , '' authorities in Washington state said . The Snohomish County Sheriff 's Office said , in addition to those dead , seven adults and a 6-month-old boy were rescued and sent to local hospitals . One of those hospitals , Harborview Medical Center in Seattle , reported that five patients had been airlifted there and were in its care . Three of those -- including the baby , a 58-year-old man and an 81-year-old man -- were in critical condition Saturday night , according to spokeswoman Susan Gregg . At least six houses were destroyed in the landslide , though the sheriff 's office noted they are still assessing exactly how many structures have been affected . The first reports of the landslide came in around 10:45 a.m. ( 1:45 p.m . ET ) along State Road 530 , the sheriff 's office said . Photos provided by the Washington State Patrol show floodwaters and sprawling debris covering a rural patch of that two-lane road , framed by woodlands and snow-capped mountains . CNN first learned of the landslide via Twitter . Groundwater saturation tied to heavy rainfall in the area over the past month was blamed for the landslide , which authorities say measured at least 45 yards wide . Because it blocked SR 530 , the landslide cut off Darrington , a town of about 1,350 people located 75 miles northeast of Seattle and within close proximity to Round Mountain , Whitehorse Mountain and White Chuck Mountain . Part of the Stillaguamish River also was blocked . Residents got reverse 911 calls warning them of `` flooding upstream from the slide , as well as the possibility of a downstream flooding should there be a catastrophic breach by the river , '' said Shari Ireton , a sheriff 's spokeswoman . The county later said `` we strongly recommend '' that those living in the north fork of the Stillaguamish River flood plain , from Oso to Stanwood , to `` evacuate your home immediately . '' `` We are working on establishing shelters for those who have nowhere to go , '' county spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said in a statement . `` Until then , people should get to higher ground as soon as possible . `` Nightfall is approaching , and we do not want to take any chances . '' Gov . Jay Inslee expressed dismay later Saturday about the `` tragedy in Oso , '' the remote community of about 180 people 15 miles west of Darrington . `` On behalf of all Washingtonians , my condolences to the families who lost loved ones in ( the ) mudslide today , '' Inslee tweeted . A number of agencies have responded , including the state transportation and emergency management departments , the U.S. Navy and fire departments across Snohomish County . Upon arriving at the scene , firefighters and state troopers heard calls for help , trooper Mark Francis said . The Snohomish sheriff warned people to stay clear of trestles or bridges or anywhere near the Stillaguamish River downstream of the slide . `` Water could break through at any moment , '' the sheriff 's office tweeted . CNN 's Michael Martinez and AnneClaire Stapleton contributed to this report .
NEW : 5 patients to one Seattle hospital , including a baby and 2 men in critical condition . Floodwaters and debris close a portion of State Route 530 . At least 6 homes are destroyed ; the road and a river are blocked . Residents are urged to evacuate for fear of a ` ` catastrophic flood . ''