On the road to the pass of " Le Grand Saint-Bernard" at, 8:30 AM, a rockfall of 600 m3 perforated a gallery (la gallerie des Trappistes) burying a car and killing its driver. The traffic was interrupted during several hours. (Le Matin)

Snow avalanches killed 21 people during the period from October 2002 to September 2003, among which 12 died in Valais (ATS).

A rockfall destroyed partially a chalet in Evolène (Valais). No fatality is reported. The road of the valley was closed for few hours (ATS).

28-29.08.2003

Violent storms in Ticino produced debris slides. One interrupted highway A2 and partly buried a car, another in the Val Blenio stopping a bus of tourist and killing a excavator conductor.

21.07.2003

Violent storms killed 4 mountaineers and caused several millions Swiss francs of damages.

15.07.2003

Scorching heat produced thaw of several rock walls in the Alps. Famous Matterhorn suffered important rockfalls leading to the interdiction of climbing (NZZ).

Ice avalanche from a glacier near Grindelwald (Bern).

05.05.2003

A woman was killed in her car by an isolated rockfall (approximately 10 kg) on the road joining Stalden to St Niklaus (Valais). This road is frequently closed because of rock fall risk.

01.05.2003

Snow avalanche near Naters below Geisshorn Mont (3740m a.s.l) in Valais at 16:00. 3 fatalities (WSL page).

29.04.2003

Rock fall perforating a rock-shed of the highway A2 in Gurtnellen. No fatalities.

21.01.2003

5 m³ of rock fall down near a house in a district of Fribourg. No damages and no fatalities.

05.01.2003

Rock fall perforating a rock-shed of the highway A8 in Iseltwald near Brienz (BE). No fatalities.

27.11.2002

Floods in the Ticino canton and Italy.

16-17.11.2002

Important precipitation caused floods and several landslides in the southeastern part of Switzerland. A debris flow produced important damages in the village of Schlans (Graubunden).

A district of Lully (Geneva) is flooded, damages are important.

22.11.2002

A rockslide of approx. 100,000 m³ occurred at the place Medji situated above the town of St-Niklaus near Zermatt in the Mattertal (Wallis). No fatalities were reported because houses were evacuated few days before the rockfall. A barrier was in construction. (See instability guide)

01.09.2002

Storms caused floods in eastern Switzerland. Railway line near Rorschach was disrupted by river erosion.

A landslide destroyed a house and killed 3 people in Lutzenberg (Appenzel) near the lake of Konstanz (Article1, Press). 

15.04.2002

Near the Swiss border (France) in Le Pas-de-Morgins a 6 m³ block crushed down on a car rolling. No fatalities.

05.12.2001

A woodcutter was killed by an isolated rock fall near the hamlet of Fenalet (Vaud).

26.06.2001

A large debris flow overran in the village of Täsch near Zermatt (Valais). Snowmelt was at the origin of the catastrophe. No fatalities, but important damages. (CREALP related page)

26.03.2001

A landslide (300 x 400 m) obstructed the river the Doubs (Jura) triggered by intense precipitation. In June the landslide was stabilized. (L’Impartial)

Important precipitations induced floods in the cantons of Berne, Fribourg and Solothurn. Roads and houses were flooded; one landslide cut a road near Boll (Berne). Power cuts were reported.

In Valais a small landslide cut the road joining the Rhône valley and the village of Evolène in the val d'Hérens.

9.01.2001

A rockfall interrupted the road joining Aproz near Sion (Valais) to the village Fey at the place called "Eterpas". Approximately 2'000 m³ of rock fall down from a 30 m high cliff at 17:30. The rockfall destroyed talus of the road. (Related topic)

07.01.2001

A landslide interrupted a secondary road in Belmont near Lausanne. One house was house was evacuated for several hours. (Belmont site)

14.10.2000

Following 3 days of precipitation a mudflow of 10’000 m³ destabilize destroying a 500 tons concrete wall which slide with the mudflow destroying ten buildings of the village of Gondo (Valais). 14 fatalities are reported. The wall was designed for stopping rock falls. (Gondo)

13-15.10.2000

Exceptional precipitation leads to floods and small landslides (Gondo, etc…) in the cantons of Valais, Ticino and Vaud. Several fatalities were reported. The total damage cost was estimated to 670 Mio Swiss francs. (CH Press)

03.01.2000

1500 m³ rock fall disrupted the road between Mayens-de-Riddes and Isérables (Valais). No fatalities.

26.12.1999

The Storm Lothar crosses Switzerland killing 14 persons and causing damages for 1.8 billions US$.

 (Lothar, BUWAL)

12.12.1999

Violent storm in the canton de Vaud (Lausanne) causing several damages.

22.05.1999

Several landslides disrupted traffic in the German part of Switzerland. One landslide in Bristen (Uri) destroyed one house and killed one German tourist.

13.05.1999

Important precipitation caused several floods in all the Swiss territory (in two days the mean precipitation of one month fall down). A debris flow crossed the village of Grimentz (Valais).

21.02.1999

A snow avalanche in Evolène killed 12 people. (Retour d’expérience sur l’avalanche du 9 février 1999,L’illustré, Le Courrier, Picture, CNN)

21.02.1999

Many valleys are isolated, the communication route were interrupted by snow avalanches or risk of snow avalanches because of abundant of snowfall. Even in regions of middle mountain snow avalanches occured like the on isolating the village of Les Plans-sur-Bex (20.02.1999). (La Presse)

During the night of 21st to 22nd December a mudflow of 30'000 m3 cut the road joining le Col des Mosses to Chateaux d'Oex in Letivaz (VD). Nine persons were evacuated from 3 chalets. One of them was reached by the mudflow. This area suffered similar events in 1879 and 1921.

24.01.1996 and 03.03.1996

Two important rockfalls occurred in the eastern Swiss Alps in Sandalp (Glarus). Their volumes were respectively (~0.45 and 1.75 millions m³). No fatalities are reported, but works have been made to avoid the failure of the dam created by the rockfall deposit that presented a risk of catastrophic flood or debris flows.

13.08.1995

An important debris flow interrupts the highway N9 in Villeneuve (Le Pissot). No fatalities (the mitigation work cost around 30 millions Swiss franc)

5.08.1994

A rockslide of about 2'000 m³ fall down above the hamlet of Fionnay (Valais, Switzerland). Blocks belonging to an ancient rockslide limit the run-out distance. The inhabited area is spared.

May 1994

In Fälli-Hölli in Canton Freiburg (Switzerland), a landslide of about 40 millions m³ with a surface of approximately 1.2 km² is reactivated. 41 houses are destroyed for approx. 15 millions US$ of damages.

23.09.1993

A flood destroyed the bridge near Brig. Gravels causing important damages filled the city. Two fatalities are reported. Important remediation works were made in order to avoid such a catastrophe. A raisable bridge was built. Other floods are reported in 1834, 1838, 1848, 1850, 1860, 1867, 1927, 1932, 1938, 1953 and in 1977. (Metrological data, Flood discharge river modelling, Picture)

18.04.1991

09.09.1991

About 22 mio m³ of rock fell from a cliff near the village of Randa (10 km north of Zermatt, Switzerland) on April 18, 1991. A second retrogressive rockslide of about 7 mio m³ followed on May 9, 1991. At present, a rock mass situated above the scarp is still slowly moving toward the valley, involving several mio m³ of rock. (Abstract, Eberhardt et al. 2002, CREALP related page, Quanterra related document)

30.08.1965

Approximately 500’000 m³ of ice from glacier of Allalin collapse on a dam building site killing 88 workers. (History, generality - fr)

An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 occurred in the northwest of Morocco at 02 :27 AM. At least 628 people were killed and 926 injured. Local assistance has been reported partly inefficient. (USGS; ReliefWeb; BBC)

The eats coast of US suffered the hurricane Isabel and induced floods killing 28 people mainly in Virginia. The damages amount to several billion US$. Air traffic was disturbed and power cut affected Washington DC. (CNN, ATS)

21.05.2003

An earthquake of magnitude 6.7 occurred 50 kilometres east from Alger (Algeria) 2,217 persons died (9’085 injuries). Approximately 200’000 homeless (CNN).

01.05.2003

Earthquakes of magnitude 6.4 in Bingol (250’000 hab.) in eastern Turkey, approximately 100 people killed. (First situation report, Bingol Earthquake 1 May 2003; EQNET Turkey Earthquake)

28 –30.12. 2002

Eruptions of the Stromboli volcano and the 30 December landslides (10 million m³) causing tsunamis. The tsunami caused several houses and boats damages (Stromboli, flank eruption December 2002 - The eruptions on 28 and 30 December 2002, the landslides and related tsunamis, Abstracts: The december 2002 volcanic activity at stromboli: all and tsunami deposits characterization).

25.11.2002

Floods and landslides followed heavy rain in northern Italy.

01.11.2002

Earthquake (magnitude 5.6) in San Giuliano (Italy) destroying a school. 29 fatalities. Guardian Unlimited Gallery 01.11.2002: San Giuliano di Puglia earthquake

8-9.09.2002

25.03.2002

Earthquakes (Magnitude 6.1) in Nahrin (Afghanistan) Approximately 1’000 fatalities and 4,000 injured, 1,500 houses destroyed.

10.11.2001

In Alger intense precipitations (960 mm within a few hours) produced floods and a catastrophic debris flow mainly in the district of Bab El Oued. 700 peoples perished in that event (Elwatan).

18-25.06.2003

Two important debris-flow in the Gerkhozhan-Su river in Russian Caucasus reached Tyrnyauz city. Building and infrastructures were destroyed, no information are available on the casualties. (Landslide News No.14-15)

July 2001

Eruption crisis (ashes and lavas) in Etna (Sciliy).

26.01.2001

An earthquake of a magnitude 7.7 destroyed the area of Bhuj in Gujarat (India). 16,403 were killed and 68, 478 injured. 229,000 houses were destroyed and 398,000 houses partially damaged. The total damages are estimated to of 3 billion $US is estimated for the infrastructures, buildings and financial damage. (Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering Server Home Page)

26-27.12.1999

During two day storms accompanied by tempestuous winds affected western Europe (the first storm is called Lothar). The winds speeds reach 175 km/h. Many forests were destroyed. 140 people perished during the storms in Europe. The insured damages represent 4.5 billiards $US. (Info planète fr ; Images; NWP Gazette ; Explanation fr)

14-16.12.1999

Exceptional precipitations and storms caused thousands of landslides, floods and debris flows along the coast in the north of Caracas (Venezuela). Damages are correlated with the amount of rainfall. The economic lost are estimated to $1.8 billions. Approximately 30,000 to 50,000 peoples died. (Debris-flow and flooding hazards associated with the December 1999 storm in coastal Venezuela and strategies for mitigation, USGS)

29.10.1999

In Orissa, eastern India, a super cyclone and associated floods 20’000 peoples perished. Around 1,325,000 houses and 1,570,000 hectares of crop were damaged. Insured damages are estimated to 2 Billions US$. Millions of people still suffering the resulting health hazards and damages in Orissa (Webrelief; UN 2001 floods).

12.10.1999

Torrential precipitations induced floods in southwestern France (in the departments of Aude, Gard, Pyrénées-Orientales et Tarn) killing 34 peoples.

17.08.1999

Earthquake in Izmit (Turkey), magnitude 7.6, 17’118 fatalities. 50’000 injured. Damages are estimated at approximately 5 billion US$. (USGS, Intereferometry Method, Damages, Seismic hazard, Presentation, CNN)

15.08.1998

A debris flow buried two cars killing 5 persons on the road leading to the Brenner Tunnel Italy.

20.07.1998

In Papua New Guinea earthquakes induced a tsunami destroying 7 villages and killing approximately 3000 people.

27.06.1998

Earthquake of magnitude 6.5 in Adana (Central southern Turkey). 112 fatalities and 1’000 injuries.

05.05.1998

Debris flow in Srano (Italy). A long period of intense precipitations triggered about 150 landslides. Around 160 persons were killed and major damages have affected the village of Sarno.

Abstract  (Video CNN)

…

In the 19th century (1830-60) the Bourbon rulers of Naples had built a complex system of water catchment basins and canals to control flooding and landslides in the area. Over the past fifty years most of these hydro-ecological structures have been paved over and used as roads or covered by houses built without permit. In Episcopio, one of the most heavily damaged suburbs of Sarno, a school, a sport center, and a social center with a never completed swimming pool had been built over the original canal and water retention buffer area constructed by the Bourbon kings. One could almost say that the local population had done everything possible to insure that the disaster could occur. (From: The May 1998 Landslides in the Sarno Area in Southern Italy: Rethinking Disaster Theory)

18-21 July 1996

Caused by important rainstorm the Lac Saint Jean-Saguenay area caused several erosion bank, dams and bridge damages and landslides. 16,000 peoples were evacuated and a landslide killed two persons. The cost can be estimated to 800 $CAN (Geological Survey of Canada).

   An earthquake of magnitude 6.8 (Richter) affected the Kobe region (Japan) killing approximately 6’300 people and destroying several Kobe districts (180’000 buildings were damaged), highway and the port. 35’000 people were injured, and 300’000 people were reported homless. (USGS, University of California Berkley, CNN, Shiohara Laboratory, Article).

22.09.1992

A torrential flood crossed the town of Vaison la Romaine (France) killing 42 peoples. 1 million m³ of water were spread out over 200 km² (Info French gov; Huma)

15.06.1991

06.1991

The Cataclysmic 1991 Eruption and Lahars of Mount Pinatubo 90 km northwest to Manila Philippines. A gigantic eruption begins after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurred. This gigantic eruption, the biggest of the 20^th century, produced clouds that round the world avalanches of hot ash and gas, giant mudflows. The impact was world wide on climate and on airplane flights.

By chance only 800 hundred peoples perished, because of evacuations of up to 58,000 peoples. Around 5000 houses were destroyed in 1991 and 70,000 damaged. IN 1992 around 6,000 houses were damaged or destroyed. The following year 3,281 homes were destroyed and 3,137 were damaged and 72 people died during a new eruption. (Article)

07.12.1988

In Armenia (USSR) an earthquake of magnitude 6.9 detrain completely the town of Spitak. The earthquakes affected an area of 80 km², and other cities. A total of 25,000 peoples died. (BBC)

03.10.1988

The 3^rd October 1988, in six hours of intense precipitations, 420 mm fell down over Nimes (France) region. A mud flow crossed the city killing 11 peoples

28.07.1987

After a period of precipitations and floods in the region of the Valtellina Valley (north-eastern Italy), 30-40 Mio m³ fell over 1200 m difference in altitude down to the valley obstructing it. The mass climbed back up 300 m on the other side of the valley. The fall caused a fluid debris flow, 15 m thick, by the expulsion of material and water accumulated by the previous floods. 27 people were killed downhill from the landslide, in the village of Aquilone. The velocity of the debris flow was approximately 120 km/h.

(Granular flows and numerical modelling of landslides; Il caldo scioglie i ghiacciai - scatta l'allarme frane; UNIV Savoie fr)

14.07.1987

In Le Grand-Bornand (France, Haute-Savoie) a camping was destroyed by mountainous stream flood killing 23 people and injuring 9. The precipitations reached 93 mm/h during 3 hours. The stream reached a maximum flow of 200 m³/s.

13.11.1985

A complex phenomenon associating volcanoes ice rain and stream sediments leads to lahars from the volcano Nevado del Ruiz 5389 m (Columbia). In the city of Armero 23,000 people perished. An eruption initiated icecap and snowmelts helped by rain. The pyroclastic deposits were on the ice become lahars and has grown down to the valley up to 5 times their initial volumes by erosion of the stream bed. (USGS Volcano Hazard Program)

23.11.1980

An earthquake of magnitude 7.2 produced damage over a large in the region of Campania and Basilicata in southern Italy. More than 3,500 perished, 7,700 injured and southern (Significant Earthquakes in Italy, USGS)

10.10.1980

An earthquake of magnitude 7.7 killed 3,500 people and 9,000 were injured in El Asnam (Algeria). (5 buildings collapse during the earthquake among which a new school). In 1954 the same city, when formerly Orleansville underwent an earthquake magnitude 6.7 killing more than 1,000 people. (Building design, Berkley; picture NOAA)

18.05.1980

(From USGS): “On May 18, 1980, at 8:32 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake shook Mount St. Helens. The bulge and surrounding area slid away in a gigantic rockslide and debris avalanche, releasing pressure, and triggering a major pumice and ash eruption of the volcano. Four hundred meters of the peak collapsed or blew outwards. As a result, 62 square Km of valley was filled by a debris avalanche, 650 square km of recreation, timber, and private lands were damaged by a lateral blast, and an estimated 150 million cubic meters of material was deposited directly by lahars (volcanic mudflows) into the river channels. Fifty-seven people were killed or are still missing.”

27.07 1976

One of the most catastrophic earthquakes occurs in Tangshan (China) killing 255,000 people with a magnitude of 7.5. (China virtual museums quake; Department of geosciences university of Arizona)

06.05.1976

An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 affected the Friuli in northeastern Italy. 976 people were killed and 70,000 others homeless (BBC)

04.05.1971

A landslide destroys part of the town of St-Jean-Vianney. It caused 31 fatalities, 41 destroyed houses and the Quebec prime minister closed the town. The landslide is a retrogressive slump in sensitive clays (quick clays) of 7.6 Mio m³ over a thickness of 15-30 m, flowing over 2 km creating a scarp of approximately 0.35 km².

31.05.1970

The 31^st 1970, in Yungay (Peru), an earthquake destabilized around 40-80 millions m³ of material melange composed of snow and ice and rocks. The mass flowed down to the valley on about 3500 m. The average avalanches velocity was 160 km/hour over the 18 kilometres of run out. The avalanche itself killed 25,000 peoples. The earthquakes and the avalanche killed 66,000 people. (USGS, University of Wales)

09.10.1963

At Vajont, 120 km north of Venice (Italy). In approximately 30 seconds a rock mass of 300 million m³ slides into the artificial lake formed by the tallest dam in the world at that time. The dam was partially destroyed by a tsunami wave that involved 50% of the water of the lake. The wave velocity reaches 110 km/h, the wave height was approximately 70 m it destroyed Longarone and sever other communities. More than 2,000 people were killed.  (The Tsunami Risks Project, Vajont site)

1939

Earthquake in Erzican (Turkey). 30’000 fatalities

The European Union commission decided to attribute 100 million euros from the solidarity fund to Spain, Italy and Portugal. 48.5 million euros is dedicated to emergency operations and repair of infrastructure after forest fire of July 2003 in Portugal. The grants of 47.6 million euros to Italy concern damages caused by earthquakes in the regions of Molise and Puglia, and the eruption of the Mount Etna in the Province of Catania, Sicily. As far as Spain is concerned, 8.7 million euros are attributed to the disaster caused by the sinking of the "Prestige" (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country) (EUROPA).

Mai 2003

SwissRe will take into account the climate changes in re insurance, taking into account that polluting industries and infrastructure have to be penalized. (Swiss Re Public Web Site)