New research indicates that a tsunami as high as 8 m (26 feet) may have struck on Lake Geneva in the year 563 A.D. A large rockfall at the East end of the lake near the Rhone Delta is thought to be the source of the tsunami that traveled up to 70 km away. Dr. Dave at the Landslide Blog evaluates the paper in more detail. [Source: The Landslide Blog. Image: Kremer et al. (2012) via The Landslide Blog]
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World’s Tallest Tsunami in Lituya Bay, Alaska – 1958
Allegations: Oregon Not Forthcoming With Landslide Hazard Information
Folks in Oregon are angry about a recent landslide and debris flow that closed Highway 30 and destroyed property in the town of Woodson. (Here is a powerpoint presentation by Bill Burns of the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries showing how the event happened). Some rather stinging allegations are being made that politicians withdrew a landslide hazard map from general use in 2002 for political reasons. That map or another one had characterized the area effected by the December 2007 debris flow as a "very high" or "extreme" risk of landslides. A very interesting article.
Sichuan Earthquake Update
[Updated May 30, 2008] I forgot to publish this post to the front page, whoops! The two links still have excellent information. In particular, Dave’s Landslide Blog has coverage of the many landslide lakes and the efforts to breach some of them. [/Update]
The latest numbers according to AFP, Worldwide News Agency, is 71,000 dead, missing or buried and over 5 million homeless. There were many victims that were buried by landslides and rockfall. In the past few days 200 rescue workers have been buried by mudslides.
For more coverage on landslides related to the earthquake, I recommend Dave’s Landslide Blog. Geology.com also has very comprehensive coverage as well. (AFP Photo)