15 June 2010
The strange similarity between the Attabad and the landslide in Oliver
Posted by Dave Petley
Yesterday I posted in both the ongoing situation at Attabad (and I am glad to say that it now seems likely that the reported landslide at Shimshal was a false alarm) and the mud and debris flow at Oliver in Canada. It is now reported that the Oliver slide was caused by the failure of an embankment retaining a small irrigation lake. If that is the case then I assume that the lake is this one:
The damage, shown below in an image from the Vancouver Sun, does serve to demonstrate the destructive potential of lake collapses, and thus our ongoing concerns about Attabad:
Has anyone seen any decent images of the path that the flow took between the lake and the valley floor?
Dave Petley is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hull in the United Kingdom. His blog provides commentary and analysis of landslide events occurring worldwide, including the landslides themselves, latest research, and conferences and meetings.
Dr. Petley, Here's a report of a new landslide in Bangladesh: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/10315737.stm
Hi Dave,Here is another gallery of images as well as a short video:http://gallery.castanet.net/albums/2010/June/OliverMudslide/http://www.castanet.net/news/Penticton/55129/Oliver-mudslide-UpdateRegards,Collin Orthner
Interesting to see that someone said something to someone about the lake and dam prior to the mudslide:http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/06/16/bc-oliver-mudslide-investigation.htmlAndrew
Photos of the breached dam and what is left of the lake are here:http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Oliver+disaster+assistance+from+following+mudslide/3157542/story.html?tab=PHOT
More news on information about conditions prior to the mudslide: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/province-warned-two-days-before-mudslide-that-dam-was-eroding/article1606771/
Re Shimshal, in conversation last night, a local guesthouse manager here in Gilgit told me that a blockage at Shimshal is an annual event, that is typically released sometime in July. Normally it's no big deal, but of course it would be different this year.This is of course unverified rumour. I expect to travel that direction soon (cautiously!) so may be able to get local confirmation or sight of any blockage.