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Landslides - In My Backyard?
Landslides occur all over the world. They can cause extensive damage to communities and most often, result in fatalities.
Below are just a few incidents of this natural disaster:
Thredbo, NSW, Australia – July 1997
Late at night on the 30th of July 1997, Australia’s worst landslide occurred in the New South Wales Alps.
Approximately 1000 tonnes of debris, made up of trees, snow and earth slid down the mountainside increasing in momentum until it collided with various lodges and the Thredbo Ski Village.
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Emergency Services at the Thredbo landslide
All major emergency services worked together on the rescue operation by securing damaged water, gas and oil lines. Rescuers used thermal imaging and seismic devices to locate people trapped below the rubble.
After 55 hours of searching, they were able to find a survivor who had suffered hypothermia and had endured 3 nights in minus temperatures.
The landslide incurred millions of dollars in damages, and claimed 18 lives, which took 7 days to recover.
The El Berrinche landslide, Tegucigalpa, Honduras – October 1998
Early morning of 29th October 1998, Honduras was struck with Hurricane Mitch, which is recorded to be one of the worst Hurricanes in history. It brought with it heavy and intense rains over the country and nearby Nicaragua.
The heavy rains caused over 200 landslides around the country due to weathered bedrock, resulting in over 9000 deaths, leaving thousands more homeless with threats of the spread of disease.
Java Island, Indonesia – December 2007
On December 26 2007, Java Island was caught in a flash flood as torrential monsoon rains poured.
The lack of trees and vegetation caused several devastating landslides. Over 100 people died in the landslides.
Continuous rains caused further landslides later that month, leaving people homeless and evacuating villages.
Read the news reports about the Java Island landslide:
Over 120 feared dead in Indonesia landslides, floods (ABC News)
Plea for trees as landslide toll rises (The Sydney Morning Herald)
See the Video News Reports
Watch the video on the Indonesian Landslide (31 December 2007) (ABC News)