A landslide struck the village of Gjerdrum, which is about 25km (15 miles) north-east of the Norwegian capital, Oslo. The slide is already being called a “quick clay” landslide by officials. It occurred around 4 am local time on December 30, 2020, and injured 10 people, one critically, and forced some 700 residents to evacuate. As of December 31, authorities were searching for 10 missing residents. Rescues were only possible by helicopter because of the unstable situation. They are also employing dogs and drones in the search for the missing. The slide measures 300m by 700m (985ft by 2,300ft). Another quick clay landslide occurred near the town of Alta, Norway earlier this year.
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USGS Landslide Documentary Video
The USGS has a documentary on landslide video on landslide danger in the San Francisco Bay area entitled “Riding the Storm”. I think the target audience is more general than geologist or engineer, but it is still interesting. The bullet points from the USGS site:
- A catastrophic 1982 rainstorm triggered 18,000 landslides in the Bay Area, claiming 25 lives and causing $66 million in property damage
- The combination of steep slopes, weak rocks, and intense winter storms make Bay Area uplands an ideal setting for landslides
- Landslides include both swift, potentially deadly debris flows and slower, but destructive deepseated slides
- Learn what USGS scientists have discovered about landslide dynamics and which slopes are most susceptible to sliding
- Hear the devastating stories of Bay Area residents affected by landslides and learn to recognize the danger signs
Click through to view the trailer and for links to download the full video. (Image credit: USGS)