Virtual Earthquake Reconnaissance Team (VERT) Summary by Diane Moug.
The following listings provide resources and information concerning recent landslides that have occurred in Nepal (nearby the Gorkha region), before the April 25, 2015 earthquake.
Landslide in Jure Village (Approx. Lat: 27.770 Long: 85.870)
Date of Event: 8/2/2014
5.5e6m3 landslide into the Sunkoshi River Valley at the village of Jure. Landslide blocked the Sunkoshi River by creating an approximately 55m high landslide dam. Gauging station was present downstream of the slide and measured a stopping flow. Dam breached on September 6, 2014.
Related Sources: Relief Web; The Landslide Blog (AGU)
Rockfall Landslide (Approx. Lat: 28.539 Long: 84.084)
Date of Event: 5/5/2012
A rockfall occurred just below the summit of Annapurna IV. As the rock mass moved downhill it broke up and became a rock avalanche. This may have been channeled into the Seti River and caused a debris flow.
Related Sources:
NASA Earth Observatory: Event; Aftermath
The Landslide Blog (AGU): 5/6/2012; 5/9/2012; 5/12/2012; 5/23/2012
Landslide along Narayangadh-Mugling Road (Approx. Lat: 27.82 Long: 84.46)
Date of Observation: Pre 2009
Slip zone of hydrothermally altered material. Slip surface has about 1m thick gray clay, which resembles fault gouge. Fresh phyllite overlies the sliding surface.
Related Sources:
Hasegawa, S., Dahal, R. K., Yamanaka, M., Bhandary, N. P., Yatabe, R., Inagaki, H. Causes of large-scale landslides in the Lesser Himalaya of central Nepal. Environmental Geology (2009) 57: 1423-1434.
Landslide along the Prithivi Highway (Approx. Lat: 27.7 Long: 85.2)
Date of Observation: Pre 2009
Related Sources:
Hasegawa, S., Dahal, R. K., Yamanaka, M., Bhandary, N. P., Yatabe, R., Inagaki, H. Causes of large-scale landslides in the Lesser Himalaya of central Nepal. Environmental Geology (2009) 57: 1423-1434.
Debris Flow Inundated the Village of Larcha (Approx. Lat: 27.93 Long: 85.93)
Date of Observation: 7/22/1996
A debris flow from the Bhairab Kunda Stream inundated the village of Larcha. The debris flow occurred after landslide debris blocked the Bhairab Kunda Stream, which was eventually ruptured. Slope instability was due to stream undercutting and heavy precipitation.
Related Sources:
Adhikari, D. P. & Koshimizu, S. Debris Flow Disaster at Larcha, upper Bhotekoshi Valley, central Nepal. The Island Arc (2005) 14, 410-422.
Curated topics from the April 25, 2015, Nepal Earthquake to help inform reconnaissance activities, identify impacted regions, and help document the timeline of earthquake response/recovery.
Information on geotechnical impacts—landslides and liquefaction—from the April 25, 2015, Nepal earthquake.
