Landslides
Studies & Services Division
Recent Landslides
in Sri Lanka
During last
North-East rainy season from 10th
- 15th January 2007,
a significant number of landslides have occurred in hill
country. Especially in Nuwara Eliya District Walapane and
Hanguranketha divisional Secretariat Divisions.
| |
Area(km2) |
Population |
No. of GN Divisions |
|
Walapane |
500 |
123022 |
135 |
|
Hanguranketha |
323 |
127526 |
131 |
A severe
landslide has occurred in Ladupita-Kiriwanella-Munwatta
causing eleven casualties on 12th
January 2007. some other landslides have taken place on 11th
and 12th January
2007 at;
|
Location |
Number of families affected |
Summary |
|
Akkara Seeya |
72 |
|
|
Mahawewa |
56 |
|
|
Kandura Kade |
10 |
Padiyapelella-Rikillagaskanda road has been blocked |
|
Uda Padiyapelella |
10 |
|
|
Elamulla Junction-Padiyapelalla |
05 |
One casualty |
|
Pilapitiya Villege |
11 |
Down slope with Hanguranketha town has failed |
|
Muloya Oak Watta |
29 |
|
|
Handawalapitiya |
38 |
14 houses and 24 line houses have been evacuated |
|
Ritiella |
86 |
9 houses completely destroyed |
|
Pussalapitiya |
27 |
|
|
Madulla |
3 |
|
|
Wettasthenna |
6 |
6 families evacuated and 11 families at risk |
Furthermore it is recommended to
evacuate 23 families at Walan Kele and 3 families at
Galagoda Yaya. Further investigation is going on at Mulhal
Kele.
In 1986 due to landslide risk at
Katayampathana, Rambuka and Mulhalkele, families lived there
have been relocated at Akkara Seeya and Mahawewa. But
during 11th and 12th January this year due to landslides,
again 72 families from Akkara Seeya and 35-40 families from
Mahawewa have to be relocated in some where else. In
addition landslides have reactivated at Rambuka and
Mulhalkele.
A major landslide has occurred starting
from Pussalapitiya and spreading along Rabuka. 27 families
should be removed due to this slide.
Further investigations
are going on in Nuwara Eliya district by NBRO crew where
landslides have taken place. Therefore above details are
subjected to changes after the detailed investigations.
|
Padiyapallella Landslide |
Handawalapitiya Landslide |
 |
 |
|
Ritiella
Landslide
|
| |
|
District :
|
Nuwara Eliya |
|
DS
Division : |
Walapane |
|
Occurrence : |
11th January 2007 |
|
Damages :
|
9 houses completely destroyed |
|
Geological and Other Observations :
This area consist of
colluviums soil deposited by old landslides occurred in
the past. Ground is highly cracked with about one feet
openings and about one feet subsidence,. cracks appeared
in teh head area extend up to 150m. Mud water springs
were appeared in rainy seasons. |
|
Description :
This is a rotational type
landslide.
|
|
|
Akkara Seeya Landslide
|
| |
|
District :
|
Nuwara Eliya |
|
DS
Division : |
Hanguranketha |
|
Gn
Division ; |
DARA OYA-499 C |
|
Occurrence :
|
11th January 2007 |
|
Geological and Other Observations :
The unstable area is situated in the area
that is extending from Hope Estate to Darawa to destroy
Rikillagaskada-Deltota main road. Whole area is
underlain by a thick colluvium soil layer. Huge boulders
are embedded in the soil overburden. Tension cracks are
developed all over the slope and the houses, roads and
other structures are heavily damaged. Floors and walls
of houses are cracked. In the upper region of the slope
the some of the surface water sources have gone dried
and simultaneously, new water springs with turbidized
water were suddenly appeared in the toe region of the
slope. Six houses are heavily damaged and the others are
also highly damaged.
|
|
Description :
This is a
typical rotational type landslide with deep slip
surfaces developed within the thick soil overburden.
Intensive rain water infiltration has induced the
failure. Absence of a surface drainage system,
disturbances caused to the existing soil slope due to
construction activities, soil erosion were the major
causes of the prevailing situation.
|
|
|
|
Mahawewa Landslide
|
| |
|
District :
|
Nuwara Eliya |
|
Ds
Division : |
Walapane |
|
Occurrence :
|
11th January 2007 |
|
Damages :
|
35-40 families evacuated |
|
Geological Observations : Most
houses and grounds were cracked severely vertically and
horizontally and lateral ground movements are observed.
Newly appeared springs and underground flow paths were
observed in the area. |
|
Description :
This is a rotational slide with a high
level of risk as this area consists of debris of very
old landslides occurred in the upper area. Affected
area was subjected to creeping and subsidence in
several times in the recent past.
|
|
|
|
Pussellawa-Paradeka Landslide
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
District :
|
Nuwara Eliya |
|
Occurrence :
|
11th
November 2006- 2330 hrs and morning on 12th |
|
Damages :
|
4 vehicles and 6 casualties. |
|
Description :
This is not a real landslide, but a slide due to road
cut. Along the dip slope as a translation slide,
average quantity of debris slide to the road. Because
of unfavorable slope angle, daylight condition and
inappropriate measures during the road construction,
this cut slope failure has occurred.
|
|
|
|
Peradeniya
Landslide
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
District
:
|
Kandy |
|
Location :
|
Peradeniya Town |
|
Occurrence :
|
16th
- 17th November 1997 |
|
Damages :
|
Few
shops collapsed by debris and road was blocked.
|
|
Description
:
A landslide due to
unfavorable slope, geological and hydrological
conditions. |
|
|
|
Galagedara
Subsidence |
| |
|
District :
|
Kandy |
|
DS
Division :
|
Thumpane |
|
GN Division :
|
Galagedara |
|
Occurrence :
|
08th
of November around 1730 hrs. |
|
Damages :
|
One
house collapsed and one house at risk. |
|
Description
: First noticed appearing of
cracks on the floor and walls. In 20 minutes all the
cracks opened by 3cm and collapsed gradually. |
|
Cause
:
Subsurface erosion due to adjacent stream.
|
|
|
|
Hatton Town Landslide
|
| |
|
District :
|
Nuwara eliya |
|
Location :
|
Hatton Town |
|
Damages :
|
Few
shops were damaged due to debris, road were blocked by
debris. |
|
Description
:
A
small scale landslide due to both road cut and cuts
made by owners of the lands for building construction.
|
