On 5-6 May 1998 prolonged rainfall triggered a large number of slope failures in the Sarno, Quindici, Siano and Bracigliano area of the Campania Region (Southern Italy) (Fig. 19.1). The casualties (161 people lost their lives), the huge economic damage and the severe destruction of this landslide event attracted great attention on the part of the Italian authorities and of the scientific community leading to careful scrutiny of the landslide-type mechanism and the associated risk. Historical and geological analyses have shown that similar landslide events have previously affected nearby towns and infrastructure, mainly involving the airfall products of the Vesuvius and Phlegraean Field eruptions. Geologically, these landslides should be considered as secondary and delayed effects of volcanic activity. Despite many points of disagreement and opinion still existing among different research groups and technicians, also due to the complexity of the phenomenon and the different research aims, a correct comprehension of the landslide mechanism is required to provide parameters for measures of mitigation. Moreover, the area of the Campania Region that can be considered subject to hazard is of about 2,000 km2, a part of which is devoted to tourist activity, e.g. the Sorrento and Amalfi areas. The towns considered at risk (about 100) and the demands of new urbanization that could increase the relevant risks, make correct land-planning necessary, given that landslides constitute one of the major problems. Even if single slope instabilities are generally characterized by a small volume of materials involved (<10,000 m3), clusters of quasi-simultaneous instabilities can involve wide areas, inducing catastrophic situations. In this chapter the geological setting, the landslide characteristics and the triggering features are described as well as the failure mechanism and runout.

Debris avalanches and debris flows of the Campania Region (Southern Italy)

GUADAGNO F;REVELLINO P.
2005-01-01

Abstract

On 5-6 May 1998 prolonged rainfall triggered a large number of slope failures in the Sarno, Quindici, Siano and Bracigliano area of the Campania Region (Southern Italy) (Fig. 19.1). The casualties (161 people lost their lives), the huge economic damage and the severe destruction of this landslide event attracted great attention on the part of the Italian authorities and of the scientific community leading to careful scrutiny of the landslide-type mechanism and the associated risk. Historical and geological analyses have shown that similar landslide events have previously affected nearby towns and infrastructure, mainly involving the airfall products of the Vesuvius and Phlegraean Field eruptions. Geologically, these landslides should be considered as secondary and delayed effects of volcanic activity. Despite many points of disagreement and opinion still existing among different research groups and technicians, also due to the complexity of the phenomenon and the different research aims, a correct comprehension of the landslide mechanism is required to provide parameters for measures of mitigation. Moreover, the area of the Campania Region that can be considered subject to hazard is of about 2,000 km2, a part of which is devoted to tourist activity, e.g. the Sorrento and Amalfi areas. The towns considered at risk (about 100) and the demands of new urbanization that could increase the relevant risks, make correct land-planning necessary, given that landslides constitute one of the major problems. Even if single slope instabilities are generally characterized by a small volume of materials involved (<10,000 m3), clusters of quasi-simultaneous instabilities can involve wide areas, inducing catastrophic situations. In this chapter the geological setting, the landslide characteristics and the triggering features are described as well as the failure mechanism and runout.
2005
3-540-20726-0
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12070/7391
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