Saturday 7 March 2015

Three killed by landslide in Chachapoyas State, Peru.

Three people have been killed by a landslide close to the town of Bagua in Chachapoyas Province on Thursday 5 February 2015. The three were reportedly traveling by motorcycle-taxi on the El Tingo Corontacha Highway close to the town when they were hit by rocks and mud from the landslide following heavy rains. Landslides are a common problem after severe weather events, as excess pore water pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by heavy rainfall. A thirteen-year-old girl who was also buried by the event was rescued after four and a half hours of work by local firemen, and has been taken to a nearby hospital with multiple injuries.


The approximate location of the 5 February 2015 Bagua landslide. Google Maps.

The Peru has suffered a string of flooding and landslide events in recent weeks, leading to about 20 deaths and around 80 000 people being displaced or otherwise effected. The rainy season in the Peruvian Andes lasts from September till May, with peak rainfall between January and March. The climate is highly variable across this region, with some areas receiving in excess of 10 000 mm of rainfall per year.

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