Landslides

[Robyn Appleton]

"The causes of landslides are not a mystery to mankind. Layers of rock and soil such that rain running along a clay or rock layer can create a slippery surface for the weight of the layers above it is a common cause. A rock jumble from previous mountain building, broken or fractured rock easily dislodged. We have stated that the earthquakes man experiences between the periodic passages of Planet X can be considered aftershocks from the last passage, and this is true of landslides also. Mountain building rumples the landscape, so the land is not flat but has steep ravines and hill sides. Older mountain ranges are recognized for their rounded or smoothed appearance, because of frequent landslides distributing the rubble.

"As we approach another passage, another Pole Shift, the pace of landslides has picked up. Why would this be? Plates under pressure will put pressure on regions that contain rumpled hillsides and deep ravines, as these give more readily than strictly flat land, thus act as a weak link. In addition, due to the wobble, the weather has gotten more extreme, with drought and deluge increasing in extremes. Dry ground, suddenly flooded with rainwater needing to seek its level as runoff, will create internal water slides between the rock and soil layers that constitute the rumpled hillsides. Is there an early warning system that mankind could use? The trembles that soil about to slide emits could be detected, yes. These are not earthquakes, and have their own frequency. "

ZetaTalk Chat Q&A: March 22, 2014

[Mark]

Landslide in eastern China buries homes, leaving casualties and people missing

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/landslide-in-eastern-chin...

The death toll from a landslide that buried homes in eastern China has risen to 16 people with 21 others still missing, a local government said Sunday.

A torrent of mud and rocks unleashed by heavy rains buried nearly 30 homes in a village in Zhejiang province on Friday night. Four people had previously been confirmed dead.

The Lishui city government, which administers Lidong village where the landslide happened, said that 16 bodies had been found as well as one survivor, who was in stable condition.

[Tracie Crespo]

www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Landslide-closes-A386-near-Great-Torri...

Landslide closes A386 near Great Torrington after 30 tons of soil and stone plunge onto road

By WMNDavidWells  |  Posted: November 12, 2015

• 

A landslide was reported to have brought down five large trees and up to 30 tons of earth on to a main road through Devon.

The incident was reported in the early hours of this morning when the A386 was closed following the incident near Beam Quarry on the road between Great Torrington and Landcross.

Diversions were put in place as early morning commuters made their way to work.

A digger was brought in to start to move the mounds of soil and stone, while the trees were cut up and moved.

Hugh Griffith, highway operations control centre manager for Devon County Council, posted a tweet this morning on social media, saying: “A386 Beam Quarry closure a 30 ton bank slip has brought down 5 large trees, 3 cut up & moved, digger starting to move soil/stone.”

He added: “#Devon Near Torrington, the A386 is closed at Beam Quarry due to a landslide. Diversions are in place (via @hughHocc).”

Motorists are being diverted via Landcross on the A388, via Frithelstock and Rakeham Hill.

Read more: http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Landslide-closes-A386-near-Grea... 

[Mark]

Insane moment unfazed onlookers stand a stone's throw away from a massive landslide as it engulfs the road

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-3311967/Insane...

A shocking video has emerged of a massive landslide ripping up trees and completely blocking a road as onlookers stood just a few feet away taking pictures and filming the event.

The landslide took place yesterday at a section of the 210 National Road in Hanzhong city, central China’s Shaanxi Province, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded, reports The People’s Daily Online.

As tonnes of mud and rock tumbled down the mountain, the people in the video seem completely unfazed by the fact that they are just a few feet away from being crushed.
The 80-second amateur footage shows a close-up of the mountain as large quantities of mud and rock start to fall onto the road, bringing trees with them.

Some of the rocks looked like huge boulders as they rolled down a hill.

These were followed by large trees, still standing tall, as they slid down the mountain along with the mud as if they’ve just been simply picked up and swept away.

As the footage progressed, the mountain started sliding down faster and huge chunks of earth were picked up and thrown onto the road.
When the camera zooms out, about 20 people could be seen standing on the road just watching as it is being engulfed right in front of them.

They do not seem to be scared as even though they are just a few feet away from the threat of death.

More than 350,000 cubic feet of soil and stone fell down from the hill, covering over 320 feet of the road below.

Traffic in the area was badly interrupted, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded.

It is thought the landslide was caused by the rain from a few days earlier as the area has been experiencing several landslides recently.

Clean up work has begun to unblock the road and traffic disruptions will be expected over the next week.

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3307309/Rescuers-desperatel...

Two British holidaymakers presumed dead after being buried alive by 7,000 cubic feet of rock and dirt while visiting popular waterfall attraction in Bulgaria

• Two British tourists have been buried in a rockslide in northern Bulgaria
• The pair, along with a local companion, were hit while walking on a path
• Emergency services have been working at the scene of the incident today
• But the couple are presumed dead after being buried alive at the tourist site

Two British holidaymakers were tonight presumed dead after they were buried alive under an avalanche of stone as they posed for a photograph at a waterfalls in Bulgaria.

Rescue workers attempted to dig out the couple, thought to be in their thirties, who became trapped when around 7,000 cubic feet of rock came down, but they could not be found.

The man and woman were having their picture taken on a bridge at the remote mountain beauty spot in northern Bulgaria at around midday when the rockslide occurred.

+7

Rescue workers at the site of the Bulgarian waterfall at which two British holidaymakers are presumed dead after being buried alive under an avalanche of stone

+7

The pair were walking beside the Krushuna Waterfalls (pictured) in Bulgaria today when an avalanche of rock and dirt tumbled down on top of them. Their companion, a local, managed to escape and raise the alarm

Locals said they were on a section of the iron bridge by a cave when a large section of the overhanging rock above them suddenly came crashing down.

Viktor Dzhonev, who runs a guest house near the Krushuna falls in Letnitsa province, told the Mail: ‘The man and woman were under the cliffs. Another woman was taking a picture of them with a camera when it happened.

‘A small piece of rock hit her but she got away. The couple were buried.’

[SongStar101]

‘Catastrophe’: At least 17 killed, 45 missing, town leveled by flood in Brazil dam collapse

https://www.rt.com/news/320974-brazil-dam-mining-collapse/

Over a dozen people have reportedly been killed and at least 45 more are missing after a dam burst in the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Social media images show grave devastation, as rescue operations and evacuations are underway.

READ MORE: Buried under sea of mud: Aerial footage shows Brazilian ...

At least 17 people have been killed in the disaster, AFP reported citing firefighters.

The dam burst near a working mine in a rural area located about 300 kilometers (185 miles) from Rio de Janeiro, AP reported, citing a statement published by the city hall of Mariana.

Witnesses told local media that the town of Bento Rodrigues, with a population of 620 people, has been completely flooded by mud.

“An avalanche of liquid waste destroyed houses, a school, a church, a medical center, carried away vehicles. Many families have been left homeless and are waiting for news about their loved ones. The emergency work is hampered by the fact that the flooded areas are only accessible via helicopters. This is one of the saddest scenes I ever had to witness,” the local health ministry head of Minas Gerais state, Juliano Duarte, was quoted as saying by TASS.

Rescue teams are on site looking for survivors. The exact number of dead and injured is still unknown.

The Iron and Metals Extraction Union said that between 15 and 16 people have been killed and 45 remain missing. 

Sniffer dogs have been sent to the area to help search for the missing people.

#Brazil dam disaster: Images show small town of Bento Rodrigues has been completely engulfed in sludge (Images: G1) pic.twitter.com/2hvybLMcWl

— Ben Tavener (@BenTavener) November 5, 2015

Photos and videos from the scene posted on social media show devastation on a large-scale, with houses and vehicles flooded in a pool of mud. Authorities say mudslides are still a risk.

People living around the dam were instructed to evacuate and seek safety on higher ground.

The mine’s owner, Samarco mining company, confirmed the break in a statement, adding that toxic waste from mining operations had been leaked. It also promised to minimize the damage to local residents and the environment.

This could be the worst dam burst in the country’s history, media reported, citing a government committee dealing with dams. Carlos Eduardo Ferreira Brito, Environmental Prosecutor of Minas Gerais’s Public Ministry, described the accident as “catastrophic.”

[Mark]

Huge Earth Crack Caused by Landslide in Wyoming

http://www.dailytimesgazette.com/huge-earth-crack-caused-by-landsli...

A rural area nearby Ten Sleep, Northcentral Wyoming was discovered to have a huge crack on the ground. Experts and geologists highly believe that it is caused by a landslide that happened in the area but no one could have witness the event happening.

Photos of the crack were seen by Chamois Andersen, representative of Wyoming State Geological Survey saying that there is clear evidence that the crack is all anecdotal.

“It appears this may be due to groundwater has created weakness in what is already a saturated hillside. Further saturation like a wet spring and summer leads to more weakness, then the hillside shifted and caused a landslide with an associated large crack,” said Andersen.

They highly advise that people should stay as far as possible from the site as it is still considered an active landslide site that poses risk to human life.

Andersen believes that the landslide could have occurred in a gradual period of one to two weeks time.

Geologists estimate the size of the crack to be about 750 yards in length and 50 yards in width.

Even hunter Randy Becker was surprised to see the site in actual and even took photos as remembrance. He said that, “I was stunned. The magnitude of this shift in earth is dramatic. It blows you away to see it.”

[KM]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3295052/Run-life-Dramatic-f...

Run for your life: Dramatic footage shows Mexican landslide wiping out a busy road as foundations under 'illegal' tower block give way

• The massive landslide happened in the Santa Fe district of Mexico City
• The cliff face under two illegally-built tower blocks slid into the valley 
• Local council officials said the flats did not have any planning permission
• Luckily no one was killed by the rock slide which damaged 15 cars  

This is the incredible moment a huge landslide in Mexico was caught on video.

At least 15 cars were damaged as six thousand cubic metres of earth crashed onto the road below.

Amazingly, the landslide did not bring down two tower blocks and a private house built precariously near the cliff edge as the ground collapsed underneath them.

Householders in two Mexican tower blocks had a lucky escape after the cliff face underneath their homes collapsed leaving the properties which were built without planning permission only a few feet from disaster

Bystanders videoed the landside as thousands of tonnes of debris hurtled down the side of the cliff

But shocked drivers and pedestrians below meanwhile tried to flee the debris, and the huge dust cloud that followed.

The dramatic incident happened in Santa Fe, one of the major business districts of Mexico City, located in the west part of the Mexican capital city.

Parts of the video were taken from the other side of the valley, on dashboard cameras and mobile phones, and they were all uploaded onto social media where they quickly went viral.

Officials say people living in the apartment buildings were told there was a risk of landslide back in 2007, but ignored their warnings.

The authorities of Cuajimalpa, one of the 16 boroughs of Mexico City to which Santa Fe belongs, also said they had previously advised the inhabitants to abandon the buildings fearing they would fall if there was a landslide.

[KM]

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/famous-rock-formatio...

Famous sea arch rock formation collapses in Nova Scotia

Thursday, October 22, 2015, 10:54 AM - A famous Nova Scotia landmark has literally disappeared overnight, prompting locals and visitors to wonder, what happened to the 'hole'?

People have long flocked to admire the iconic sea arch, also known as the 'eye' on Long Island in the Minas Basin.

But when nearby residents awoke Tuesday morning, they discovered the rock formation had dramatically changed overnight.

The hole was gone.

"I looked out the window this morning and I had to look twice," Harold Nesbitt told the CBC. Nesbitt and his wife recently moved to a waterfront home in the area because of the view it offered of the Five Islands, which includes Long Island.

The opening in the rock face was large enough that kayakers and boaters could pass through it during high tide. The circular hole served as a pass through from the Minas Basin into the Bay of Fundy, the site of the highest tides in the world. 

Just a few weeks ago, the highest tides in 18 years were recorded in the area. Some speculate that this event, combined with the effects of strong, seaside winds and erosion over time likely led to the opening's collapse.

While the Minas Basin remains a popular destination for those seeking to admire ocean views and unique landscapes, the sea arch will be sorely missed.

[Howard]

Another Massive Landslide on Yukon's Mt Steele (Oct 11)

45 million tons of rock, snow and ice came thundering off Mount Steele, a 5,067 metre peak in the remote icefields of the St. Elias Mountains, in Kluane National Park and Reserve on October 11.

The debris — which NASA compared to the weight of approximately 700 aircraft carriers — fell approximately one kilometre and slid about twice that distance on the Steele glacier.

This is the second significant slide in the area in less than a decade. A 2007 slide on Mount Steele is considered one of the largest known landslides in western Canada.

The recent landslide was discovered by Goran Ekstrom, a seismologist and professor at Columbia University who tracks seismic data worldwide.

The force of millions of tons of rock and ice coming off the mountain caused seismic waves measuring similar to a magnitude 5 earthquake, he says.

"It's actually a very large event. We don't have a full list of large landslides, but I would say this will be in the top 10 of 2015. Worldwide," said Ekstrom. "It might even be higher up on the list."

He says the scientific community doesn't know if there is a "special condition" with Mount Steele that caused two significant events in a short period of time. He says, although ground shaking can case landslides, there were no earthquakes in the region the day of this slide, nor were there other obvious triggers.

Sources

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/mount-steele-landslide-2015-1.3...

http://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2015/10/20/mount-steele-rock-ava...

http://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2015/10/19/first-announcement-a-...

[Derrick Johnson]

Pictured: The incredible moment a massive section of mountain breaks off and plummets 1,000 feet, destroying the forest below

• The footage was captured by a geologist who just happened to be filming
• 2,000 cubic metres of rock fell and caused an avalanche on the mountain
• Major movement was detected prior to rockfall and hamlet was evacuated
• Rockfall tore a path through trees and the noise echoed around the valley

By JAKE POLDEN FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 07:53 EST, 23 October 2015 | UPDATED: 13:14 EST, 23 October 2015

This is the incredible moment a huge piece of rock broke free from the side of a mountain and plummeted 1,000 feet in Switzerland.

The incredible footage was captured by a geologist who just happened to be filming when the rock fall occurred on a mountain in the Swiss Alps.

According to local reports the 2,000 cubic metres of solid rock that fell caused an avalanche on the mountain of Mel de la Niva, near Evolene. 

Geologists studying the mountain had noted geological activity prior to the incident and the site had been under surveillance since 2013, reported Le Nouvelliste.

Major movements were detected last week and the hamlet of Arbey and a road below the mountain had been evacuated and shut the day before. 

The noise from the rockfall was said to have echoed around the valley, as the debris rained down on the mountain, tearing a path through the trees and destroying the forested slopes.

There were no reported injuries resulting from the incident however.

Since being posted to YouTube the clip has been viewed 100,000 times and a number of users have shared their thoughts.

One person wrote: 'Unbelievable someone was actually there for that, and was recording. Thousands of years of waiting, 30 seconds of action, and we got it on film.'

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3286195/Incredible-moment-H...