Abstract
The Guinsaugon rock slide-debris avalanche was the most catastrophic single landslide event in Philippine history, with 14–18 M m3 of debris instantly burying an entire village. Hummocky topography, pressure ridges and other internal structures suggest that the landslide deposit was emplaced as a debris avalanche and debris flow. Susceptibility to planar and wedge failures as well as to toppling due to rock discontinuities were demonstrated using kinematic analysis and SMR. Limit equilibrium analysis on planar failures yielded factors of safety ranging from 0.8 to 1.5. The study showed that pore pressure on discontinuities had a more significant effect on the slope stability than seismicity. For wedge failures, there is a sudden drop in the factor of safety at pore water pressures of 258–306 kPa. At the site, the pore water pressure may have been as high as 490 kPa. The possibility of such a landslide event in the future is discussed.
Résumé
Le glissement rocheux/avalanche de roches de Guinsaugon est le glissement le plus catastrophique de l’histoire des Philippines, avec 14 à 18 M m3 de débris rocheux submergeant entièrement un village. La topographie chaotique, les rides de pression et différentes structures internes suggèrent que les dépôts se sont mis en place comme une avalanche de roches ou un écoulement de débris. La prédisposition du massif rocheux aux glissements plans ou en dièdres, ainsi qu’aux basculements a été établie à partir de l’analyse des discontinuités et en considérant la classification SMR. L’analyse suivant la méthode des équilibres limites a conduit à des facteurs de sécurité variables entre 0,8 et 1,5 pour les glissements plans. Les études ont montré que les pressions interstitielles dans les discontinuités avaient une plus forte influence sur la stabilité que les actions séismiques considérées. Pour les ruptures en dièdres, une baisse rapide des coefficients de sécurité apparaît lorsque les pressions interstitielles passent de 258 à 306 kPa. Sur site, les pressions interstitielles peuvent avoir atteint la valeur de 490 kPa. La possibilité d’un événement comparable à l’avenir est discutée.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abele G (1974) Bergsturze in den Apen. Wissenschaftliche Alpenvereinshefte, vol 25. Ausschusse des Deutschen und Osterreichischen Alpenvereins, Munchen, pp 1–231
Angeli MG, Gasparetto P, Menotti RM, Pasuto A, Silvano S, Soldati M (1996) Rock avalanche. In: Dikau R, Brunsden D, Schrott L, Ibsen ML (eds) Landslide recognition. Wiley, Chichester, pp 190–201
Bautista MLP, Oike K (2000) Estimation of the magnitudes and epicenters of Philippine historical earthquakes. Tectonophys 317:137–169
Catane SG, Cabria HB, Tomarong CP Jr, Saturay RM Jr, Zarco MAH, Pioquinto WC (2006a) Extremely rapid rock slide-debris avalanche at St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, Philippines (in Japanese). Tsuki to Kiso 54–55(580):33–34
Catane SG, Cabria HB, Tomarong CP Jr, Saturay RM Jr, Zarco MAH, Pioquinto WC (2006b) Catastrophic rock slide-debris avalanche at St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, Philippines. Landslides, doi:10.1007/s10346-006-0050-3
Cole J, McCabe R, Moriarty T, Malicse JA, Delfin FG, Tebar H, Ferrer HP (1989) A Preliminary Neogene Paleomagnetic data set from Leyte and its relation to motion on the Philippine fault. Tectonophys 168:205–221
Committee on Ground Failure Hazards (1985) Reducing losses from landslides. In: The US commission on engineering and technological systems, National Research Council, Washington DC, pp 14
Crosta GB, Chen H, Frattini P (2006) Forecasting hazard scenarios and implications for the evaluation of countermeasure efficiency for large debris avalanches. Eng Geol 83:236–253
Cruz N (2006) An analysis of extreme rainfall events associated with the Guisaugon landslide. In: The February 17, 2006 St. Bernard landslide and related phenomena: scientific views and policy suggestions. Geological Society of the Philippines, pp 4
Daag AS, Molina O, Buena D., Gumabon E (2006) Deterministic modeling of rain- and earthquake-induced landslides in mountainous environments transected by an active fault. Presented in the Caravan Seminar on Geospatial Technologies for Disaster Mitigation: Philippines Perspective, City Garden Hotel, Makati City, Philippines, November 27, 2006
Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI) (2006) Philippine Southern Leyte landslide preliminary report. Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, pp 30
Domasig WF (1991) Report on the ground investigation of reported landslides and ground fissures and other earthquake-related damages in Cabalian–St. Bernard area in Southern Leyte, Mines and Geosciences Development Service memorandum report, pp 6
Duquesnoy Th (1997) Contributions de la géodésie à l’étude de grands décrochements actifs associés à des zones de subduction à convergence oblique. Thése de docteur en sciences, University of Paris XI, Orsay
Eppler DB, Fink J, Fletcher R (1987) Rheological properties of Chaos Jumbles rock fall avalanche, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California. J Geophys Res 92:3623–3633
Friedmann SJ, Taberlet N, Losert W (2006) Rock-avalanche dynamics: insights from granular physics experiments. J Geophys Res 95:911–919
Gorshkov GS (1959) Gigantic eruption of the volcano Bezymianny. Bull Volcanol 20:77–109
Gubler H (1993) Dense-flow avalanches: a discussion of experimental results and basic processes. In: Buisson L, Brugnot G (eds) International workshop on rapid gravitational mass movements, pp 126–127
Hoek E, Bray J (1981) Rock slope engineering, 3rd edn. E & FN Spon, London, pp 150–198
Hoek E, Carranza-Torres CT, Corkum B (2002) Hoek-Brown failure criterion 2002 edition. In: Proceedings of the North America Rock Mechanics Society Meeting, Toronto, July 2002
Hsu KJ (1975) Catastrophic debris streams (struzstroms) generated by rockfalls. Geol Soc Am Bull 86:129–140
Inter-Agency Committee (2006) The 17 February 2006 Bgy. Guinsaugon, Southern Leyte Landslide, March 3, 2006, pp 30
JICA-MMAJ (1990) The mineral exploration—mineral deposits and tectonics of two contrasting geologic environments in the Republic of the Philippines. Consolidated report on Leyte, Dinagat and Surigao Areas. Japan International Cooperation Agency-Metal Mining Agency of Japan, Japan
Lagmay AM, Ong JB, Fernandez F, Lapus M, Rodolfo R, Tengonciang AM, Soria JL, Baliatan E, Quimba Z, Uichanco E, Paguican A, Remedio G, Lorenzo G, Valdivia W, Avila F (2006) Scientists investigate recent Philippine landslide. EOS 87(12):121–124
Lanuza, AG, Chu AV, Mangao EA, Soneja DS, Sanez R, Garcia DC (1994) Aftershocks observation of 05 July 1994 earthquake in Cabalian area, Southern Leyte, PHIVOLCS internal report, 35 p
McEwen A, Malin M (1989) Dynamics of Mount St. Helens’ 1980 pyroclastic flows, rockslide-avalanche, lahars, and blast. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 37:205–231
Orense RP, Sapuay SE (2006) Preliminary report of the 17 February 2006 Leyte Philippine Landslide. Soils Found 46(5):693–701
Plafker G, Ericksen GE (1978) Nevados Huascaran avalanches, Peru. In: Voight B (ed) Rockslides and avalanches 1, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 277–314
Romana MR (1993) A geomechanical classification for slopes: slope mass rating. In: Hudson JA (ed) Comprehensive rock engineering, principles–practice and projects 3, rock testing and site characterization. Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp 575–600
Sassa K, Fukuoka H, Shuzui H, Hoshino M (2003) Landslide risk evaluation in the Machu Picchu World Heritage. Cusco, Peru, pp 20
Schuster RL, Highland LM (2001) Socioeconomic and environmental impact of landslides in the Western Hemisphere. UGGS Open-File Report 01-0276
Siebert L (1984) Large volcanic debris avalanches: characteristics of source areas, deposits and associated eruptions. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 22:163–197
Takarada S, Ui T, Yamamoto Y (1999) Depositional features and transportation mechanism of valley-filling Iwasegawa and Kaida debris avalanches, Japan. Bull Volcanol 60:508–522
Voight B, Janda RJ, Glicken HX, Douglas PS (1983) Nature and mechanics of the Mount St. Helens rockslide-avalanche of 18 May 1980. Geotechnique 33:243–273
Acknowledgments
We thank the residents of Guinsaugon, most especially Virgilio Monghit and Felipe Nerio, for providing vital eyewitness information on the events related to the 17 February 2006 landslide. Discussions with Eddie Listanco and Masahiko Makino were helpful in reconstructing the landslide event. Technical support provided by Allan Mandanas, Jules Bangate, Ranel Padon and Louie Balicanta is gratefully acknowledged. We also thank Ms. Sampaguita Capili-Masilungan for accommodating us at St. Bernard. The study was supported by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Grant for the UP-National Institute of Geological Sciences.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Catane, S.G., Cabria, H.B., Zarco, M.A.H. et al. The 17 February 2006 Guinsaugon rock slide-debris avalanche, Southern Leyte, Philippines: deposit characteristics and failure mechanism. Bull Eng Geol Environ 67, 305–320 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-008-0120-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-008-0120-y