30 May 2017
Northern Tajikistan: An extreme mudflow video
Posted by Dave Petley
Northern Tajikistan: An extreme mudflow video
A new video appeared online yesterday showing an extreme mudflow from northern Tajikistan. This landslide, which has been posted by Radio Free Europe, apparently occurred on 28th May, triggered by snowmelt:
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Whilst the commentary describes the location, I have not been able to translate this into a geographical location as yet. The landslide is an exceptionally large mudflow. Its interaction with the river, and the very large displacement wave that it generated (see the image below) are both unique in terms of video capture I think:
The dramatic mudslide in N. Tajikistan on 28th May 2017, via Youtube
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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.
Hi, the location is N 39.197482°, E 71.274494° in Rasht Valley of Tajikistan (about 6 km east of Jirgitol). The soils are highly erodable. This winter was extremely snowy, with lots of meltwater.
[Brilliant, many thanks. That is a landscape with a lot of landslide activity! D.]
Stupendous! Is there a term for this process at the confluence ( mudflow-meets-river?). I am fascinated by the upstream moving wave front and the muddy material just upstream of the confluence, sort of squirting in at left. Injuries or fatalities?? Accompanying noise and/or vibrations felt in the ground?
Thank you!