Vietnam is famous for its cyclones and heavy rains, but the 2020 monsoon season differed. Monsoon, as defined by Lisonbee et al. (2019), is “a seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing winds accompanied by an increase in rainfall” (p. 399). It creates unstable weather conditions, and people observe heavy rains across the country. The 2020 season was different because it brought many tropical cyclones to the area (Van Tien et al., 2021). As a result, the cyclones and the rains led to deadly landslides.
In general, anomalies like that are called mass-wasting events. It took place in October 2020 in Cop hamlet of the Quang Tri Province of Vietnam (Van Tien et al. 2021). The type of such an event that occurred in Vietnam is a landslide.
The main reason for the landslide was the increase in rainfall which triggered the movements of the slopes (Van Tien et al., 2021). It was devastating to the people of Quang Tri province because it took the lives of twenty-two soldiers living in the barracks nearby (Van Tien et al., 2021). In addition, the slide masses destroyed four buildings on their way down the hill and severely damaged another three leaving its residents without homes and shelter.
The landslide could have been predicted if geologists had analyzed the sloping characteristics of the mountains and hills. In addition, the geological properties of the land could warn them of the possible mass wasting. To prevent that, scientists have to create a landslide model with numerical data (Van Tien et al., 2021). The local communities could use a simplified data summary to plan safe routes. Geologists could store information regarding the potentially life-threatening hazards on the internet and make them publically available to the people who live there or just any enthusiasts who want to help. Vegetation can also be used as a preventive measure because the roots of the plants can bind rocks and increase the stability of the masses. By creating mappings of the land, they can predict such events and ensure that people evacuate on time.
The natural causes of the landslides require further attention and explanation. First, particular weather can increase the chances of the slides. Rainfall and winds can create conditions for cyclones which can affect the properties of the land and the slopes (Van Tien et al., 2021). Another possible cause could be mineralization of the surface, which is mainly present in submarine landslides (Smith et al., 2018). In addition, the topography of the area plays a part too because certain features such as the steepness of the slope can indicate a possible mass wasting event.
Humans also contribute to the events by building constructions that change the usual processes of nature. As an example, dams can affect the circulation of the water, which can lead to a landslide. In addition, mining and quarrying can break or change the soil and the rocks and further increase the chances of the slides or even earthquakes.
Another factor that defines the slope is the angle of repose. It should remain between 25-40 degrees for the slope to remain stable. Any changes to that value lead to overstepping the slopes. It can potentially lead to a landslide and create a dangerous environment for people.
The recovery of the area includes aid to the victims of the event. To prevent such occurrences, geologists should analyze the geological properties of the land and create large-scale mappings of the slopes. The area’s future is primarily determined by how well the preventive measures can be done, such as vegetation and spreading awareness.
References
Lisonbee, J., Ribbe, J., & Wheeler, M. (2020). Defining the north Australian monsoon onset: A systematic review. Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment. 44(3), 398-418.
Smith, D. J., Naden, J., Miles, A. J., Bennett, H., & Bicknell, S. H. (2018). Mass wasting events and their impact on the formation and preservation of submarine ore deposits.Ore Geology Reviews. 97, 143-151.
Van Tien, P., Luong, L. H., Duc, D. M., Trinh, P. T., Quynh, D. T., Lan, N. C., & Loi, D. H. (2021). Rainfall-induced catastrophic landslide in Quang Tri Province: The deadliest single landslide event in Vietnam in 2020.Landslides, 18, 2323–2327.