Mass Movement
Largely cannot be predicted, some exceptions…
Can have some prevention
Holbeck Hall, Yorkshire, UK – 1993 [LANDSLIDE]
- Hotel built on a cliff in Yorkshire
- June 1993, rotational landslide occurred – 1 million tonnes of
glacial till (clay, sand and silt) slid from the 60m high cliff and
formed a toe 135 metres from the base
Causes:
o Rainfall of 140mm in the 2 months prior caused
antecedence in the soil [PHYSICAL]
o The slope it was built on had little drainage, high pore-
water pressure (PWC) as soil was saturated [PHYSICAL]
Management:
o Six weeks prior they saw cracks appear in the tarmac
but they just filled them up
o Another small slip caused the footpaths to be closed off
to the public 2 weeks before
o The day before, they evacuated the hotel when a guest
noticed that part of the garden had slipped dramatically
o Afterwards the land which slid was changed into a viewing
platform which became a tourist destination and it is
protected by concrete reinforced sea walls to prevent
hydraulic action
Rigopiano Avalanche, Alps, Italy – 2017 [AVALANCHE]
- A 4* hotel was at the bottom of a narrow gully which allowed the
snow to be channelled and directed with greater force towards
the hotel, completely destroying it
- 29 deaths – deadliest avalanche in Europe since 1999
Causes:
o A series of earthquakes had struck the region earlier that
day, causing instability on the slopes
o Heavy snowfall meant a large amount of shear stress on
the slope but also fresh snow isn’t compact and is easier
dislodge and cause an avalanche
Effects:
o Part of the roof of the hotel collapsed, trapping people
inside
o The hotel moved 33ft down the mountain
o Estimated weight of the snow – 120,000 tonnes
o Speed of avalanche – 60mph
o Largely destroyed the resort and people trapped inside
were located 30 hours later
o Minor injuries from this include hypothermia
Largely cannot be predicted, some exceptions…
Can have some prevention
Holbeck Hall, Yorkshire, UK – 1993 [LANDSLIDE]
- Hotel built on a cliff in Yorkshire
- June 1993, rotational landslide occurred – 1 million tonnes of
glacial till (clay, sand and silt) slid from the 60m high cliff and
formed a toe 135 metres from the base
Causes:
o Rainfall of 140mm in the 2 months prior caused
antecedence in the soil [PHYSICAL]
o The slope it was built on had little drainage, high pore-
water pressure (PWC) as soil was saturated [PHYSICAL]
Management:
o Six weeks prior they saw cracks appear in the tarmac
but they just filled them up
o Another small slip caused the footpaths to be closed off
to the public 2 weeks before
o The day before, they evacuated the hotel when a guest
noticed that part of the garden had slipped dramatically
o Afterwards the land which slid was changed into a viewing
platform which became a tourist destination and it is
protected by concrete reinforced sea walls to prevent
hydraulic action
Rigopiano Avalanche, Alps, Italy – 2017 [AVALANCHE]
- A 4* hotel was at the bottom of a narrow gully which allowed the
snow to be channelled and directed with greater force towards
the hotel, completely destroying it
- 29 deaths – deadliest avalanche in Europe since 1999
Causes:
o A series of earthquakes had struck the region earlier that
day, causing instability on the slopes
o Heavy snowfall meant a large amount of shear stress on
the slope but also fresh snow isn’t compact and is easier
dislodge and cause an avalanche
Effects:
o Part of the roof of the hotel collapsed, trapping people
inside
o The hotel moved 33ft down the mountain
o Estimated weight of the snow – 120,000 tonnes
o Speed of avalanche – 60mph
o Largely destroyed the resort and people trapped inside
were located 30 hours later
o Minor injuries from this include hypothermia
