The Philippines' Landslide

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Mass wasting is defined as the down slope motion of rock and regolith near the Earth's surface primarily due to the force of gravity. Rock slides and debris slides result when rocks or debris slide down a pre-existing surface area, such as a bedding aircraft, foliation surface, or joint surface. On February 17, 2006 the Philippines was hit by landslides. In Southern Leyte mudslides damaged the mountain village (Barangay) Guinsaugon. Throughout schooltime in between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., a primary school was totally buried under the mud layer of as much as 10 meters thickness.

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All the 246 kids and the 7 teachers were buried in a couple of seconds. It is reported that only one child and one adult lady have actually been rescued.The total loss of lives in Guinsaugon and buried under the mud is approximated to be a minimum of 1000.

The disaster happened after 10 days of heavy rains. The rainfall dumped 27 inches of rain. Prof Dave Petley, teacher at the International Landslide Centre, Durham University, concurred.

"This sort of rainfall and landslide action in the Philippines at this time of year is quite uncommon," he said, and may be connected to La Nina hurricane. Scientists however also survivors stated that not just the weather, but also illegal visiting land above the village added to the disaster.

A minor earthquake (magnitude 2.3 on the Richer scale) shook the area, but scientists said it took place after the landslide. Probably there wasn't any relation between the landslide and the earthquake. The south eastern area of Leyte is forested with coconut trees where the disaster happened.

These trees have shallow roots that can be dislodged after heavy rainsfalls rather easily, making the land unstable. In such areas landslides always will be a potential danger after days of heavy rainfall.

The village disappeared. Even rooftops couldn't be discovered after the mud and boulders did their cruel work. Only 40 acres of land can be seen where once was the village of Guinsaugon which consisted of a school and 375 houses.

A survivor says: "It sounded like the mountain exploded, and the whole thing crumbled......I could not see any house standing anymore" Only 57 survivors have been found- out of a population of 1,857.