John Vincent E.
Priagula
ACTIVITY 2: THE ROAD MAP
Part A.
Cherry Hill Subdivision Landslide
The Guinsaugon landslide in Southern
Leyte, Philippines, claimed 154 lives and
left 990 people missing on February 17,
2006. To clarify the causes of the slide
and its movement, composite studies
based on field surveys, interviews with
residents, and inspections of various
data, including seismological data, were
used. Although the landslide of the slope
was enabled first by the steepness of the
hill as a result of the fault motion;
secondly, the presence of a significant
joint system oblique to the direction of
the Philippine fault; and thirdly,
progressive rock creep, whose evidence
was noticed by local residents with the
occurrence of cracks on the slope, tilting
of trees, a slope failure, and a dry out of
river water prior to the slide, it was most
likely triggered by A small earthquake
with an epicenter near or under the
landslide slope was detected by two
seismograph networks. Although it is
unclear whether the wave signal in the
data is from a tectonic earthquake or
from this landslide, the conditional
evidence point to the latter: the tectonic
quake did not occur, but the landslide
caused the ground tremor. The residential
areas that are similar to Guinsaugon are
located at the base of the fault scarp.
2006 Southern Leyte Mudslide
On this day in 2006, a massive landslide
struck a Philippines village, destroying
everything in its path. The land spared no
one, from hundreds of homes to a
crowded elementary school. So, what
caused the devastating landslide? There
are two key pieces of evidence that
point to the cause of the landslide.
Mother Nature is the first reason. Heavy
rains pounded the Guinsaugon area
throughout early February, with up to
nearly 30 inches of rain recorded in some
areas, nearly four times the normal
a amount. Furthermore, the hillside near
the village was quite steep, and prior to
the landslide, signs of cracks and leaning
trees could have been signs of slope
failure. The heavy rainfall that
precipitated the disaster may have been
linked to a developing climate pattern
known as La Nia, which occurs when
cooler-than-normal water temperatures
develop in the central and eastern Pacific
while warm water is pushed to the
western Pacific. La Nia frequently
causes heavy rains over nations such as
the Philippines as Mother Nature draws
more moisture from the warmer-than-
normal ocean water in the western
Pacific.
John Vincent E. Priagula

ACTIVITY 2: THE ROAD MAP

Part B.

Causes of Landslides Causes of Sinkholes

Gravity Weathering
Geological factors If the rock does not dissolve in
Heavy and prolonged rainfall water
Earthquakes Surface-water
Forest fire Weather changes
Volcanoes / Volcanic Eruption Changes in the hydrologic system
Waves Changing groundwater gradients
Inappropriate drainage system Human activities
Cutting and deed excavation on Induced earthquakes
slopes for buildings, roads, canals,
and mining
Change in slope/land use pattern,
deforestation, settlements,
agricultural practices on a steep
slope
John Vincent E. Priagula

ACTIVITY 2: THE ROAD MAP

Part B.