Mudslide closes southern Minnesota highway

Updated: 6:15 p.m. | Posted: 3 p.m.

A southern Minnesota highway has been closed after a mudslide Sunday left a "significant" amount of mud and fallen trees on the road.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation reported Sunday afternoon that the mudslide had closed State Highway 68 just south of Courtland, or about 5 miles southeast of New Ulm.

MnDOT said in a news release that the mudslide left "significant mud, fallen trees and debris on the roadway."

"Crews have begun cleanup of over 8 feet of mud on the road and numerous trees," MnDOT's District 7 reported on Twitter on Sunday evening. "A large shelf of additional mud and trees is approximately 30 feet above the roadway. (The) road will remain closed until (the) slope can be stabilized."

MnDOT noted that the heavy rain seen in the area in recent weeks can trigger mudslides. Much of Minnesota saw heavy rain again on Sunday morning.

Rounds of heavy rain in recent weeks also have led to flooding conditions along the Minnesota River and some tributaries. State highways 19 and 93 near Henderson remain closed due to the high water, along with State Highway 41 over the river near Chaska.

But MnDOT has reopened the portion of Highway 93 from Highway 169 to Le Sueur.