11/12

DRRR
Quarter 2 – Module 2
Causes of Geological Hazards
DRRR– Grade 11/12
Quarter 2– Module 2: Causes of Geological Hazards

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Regional Director: Gilbert T. Sadsad

Assistant Regional Director: Jessie L. Amin

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Annie Mae T. Zafe

Evaluators: Jose Roy S. Aguilar

Ma. Claudette C. Borrega
Niño Gerard C. Ceneta

Reviewers: Jezrahel T. Omadto

Language Editors: Anabel B. Tendenilla

Imee S. Gabion
Hazel Grace T. Vargas

Layout Artist: Annie Mae T. Zafe

 Self-Learning Module for Senior High School Learners

CAUSES OF GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS

BEGIN!

As discussed in the previous module, Philippines is prone to different

geological hazards, such as landslides, ground collapse and subsidence. How do
these different geological hazards occur? What causes them?
In this module, you will learn about the causes of geological hazards that
may occur in our community.

YOUR TARGETS

Hi! I am Teacher Annie! I’m going to guide

you in your journey to this module.
At the end of the module, you should be able
to:
• Analyze causes of geological hazards.
(DRR11/12-IIa-b-28)

TRY THIS!
Directions: Identify what is asked or described in each item. Write the letter of
the correct answer on your answer sheet.

1. is a type of landslide that involves the downslope

movement of liquid-like materials.
A. avalanche C. flow
B. creep D. rockfall

2. From which of the following situations may a landslide occur?

i. An area near a mining site
ii. A coastal area with no mountains
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 iii. A mountain rich with plants and trees
iv. A community near a volcano with plenty lahar deposits

A. i and ii C. iii and iv

B. ii and iii D. i and iv

3. Which of the following is NOT a natural cause of landslides?

A. earthquake C. heavy rain
B. gravity D. kaingin

4. Which of the following geological hazards involves the vertical movement

of materials?
A. avalanche C. flow
B. creep D. sinkhole

5. Which of the following situations may cause sinkhole?

i. Deforestation
ii. Massive earthquake
iii. Water impoundments
iv. Change in weather condition

A. i and ii C. iii and iv

B. ii and iii D. i and iv

DO THIS!

Directions: Identify what kind of geological hazard/s may occur in the area
shown in the pictures.

1. Captured by: Annie Mae Zafe, September 19,

2020 at Maygnaway, San Andres

4
 Rodina, M. (2014, February 23). Massive
logging leaves deep scars in Eastern
Europe. Retrieved September 24,
2020, from
https://phys.org/news/2014-02-
massive-deep-scars-eastern-
europe.html

2.

Astley, D. (2019, December 30). Best

Philippines Road Trips:
Circumnavigation of North Luzon.
Retrieved September 24, 2020, from
https://www.xyzasia.com/home/best-
philippines-road-trips-
circumnavigation-north-luzon

3.

LGU sets demolition of 720 houses in Itogon,

Benguet - UNTV News. (2018,
October 29). Retrieved September 24,
2020, from
https://www.untvweb.com/news/lgu-
sets-demolition-of-720-houses-in-
itogon-benguet/

4.

EXPLORE!
1. Is there a possibility that a huge disaster might happen in the preceding
pictures shown? Why?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2. What could be the possible cause/s of such occurrence?

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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 KEEP THIS IN MIND

Geological hazards that may occur in our community, such as landslides

and sinkholes, are caused by different factors. There is natural and manmade
factors that cause these hazards. We know gravity is the ultimate force behind
any geological hazards or mass movements. But what pulls the trigger to set a
slide in motion?

We are kept grounded on the surface of the Earth because of gravity. The
balance of forces that acts on our body keeps us from falling and moving
smoothly. The same thing applies to prevent a landslide from happening. The
balance between the angle of a slope and its load is the key to prevent landslides
to happen. There are several factors that can lead to the disturbance of this
balance.

Here are some of the causes of geological hazards:

• Water
Heavy rainfall can cause landslides. Water can trigger landslides
and mudslides because it alters the pressure within the slope, which leads
to slope instability. Excessive water is thought to be one of the most
common triggers for landslides.
Water can also incur land subsidence that can lead to a formation
of sinkholes. Most specially if the bedrock underneath is saturated with
more water and the upper layer is heavy enough to collapse.

Rainfall-induced landslide
in Compostella Valley that
killed 25 people on 2010

Landslides Mudslides. (2010, October 21).

Retrieved September 24, 2020, from
https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/20
09/05/19/landslide-in-campostela-
valley-philippines-25-people-killed/

• Earthquakes
If the Earth's crust vibrates enough to disturb the force of friction
holding sediments in place on an incline, a landslide can strike. Seismic

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 activity can also make it easier for water to seep into the soil, further
destabilizing the slope.
Sinkholes can also be formed after a massive earthquake.

Landslide occur at Makilala,

Cotabato after a 6.3
magnitude earthquake on
October 29, 2019

The Barangay Bato landslide cluster from the

2019 Cotabato earthquakes. (2019,
November 12). Retrieved September
24, 2020, from
https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/201
9/11/12/2019-cotabato-earthquakes-2

Aside from these natural causes, there are also manmade causes that can
trigger a landslide.

• Deforestation and Kaingin

Plants act like glue to make the soil stable. When this glue is
removed, the soil loosens, which affects their stability and a landslide may
occur.

Deforestation on a mountain

Derouin, S. (2019, November 06).

Deforestation: Facts, Causes &
Effects. Retrieved September 16,
2020, from
https://www.livescience.com/27692-
deforestation.html

Burning of vegetation known

as kaingin

Unknown. (2017, October 25). Kaingin or

burning of trees. Retrieved September
16, 2020, from
http://3stopsandgonatureforourfuture.b
logspot.com/2017/10/kaingin-or-
burning-of-trees.html
• Mining
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 Specifically, underground mining, can lead to land collapse and
subsidence that can cause sinkholes. Mining can also incur landslides just
like what happened in Naga, Cebu.

Mining-induced landslide at
Naga, Cebu

BERNADETTE PARCO, G. (2018, September 25).

Naga, Cebu execs informed of landslide-
prone areas as early as 2008. Retrieved
September 24, 2020, from
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/r
egions/668965/naga-cebu-execs-informed-
of-landslide-prone-areas-as-early-as-2008-
mgb-documents/story/

• Infrastructural Construction and Industrialization

Road widening that involved the scraping of a part of a mountain
can lead to a landslide. Building houses in mountains can also destabilize
the soil and can incur tragic disaster. For example, are the houses that
were built in the slope of mountains in Baguio City.

Houses built in the slope

of mountains in Baguio
City

Verin, E. (n.d.). BAGUIO CITY,

PHILIPPINES - DECEMBER 1:
Cluster of various houses built on a
hill in the City of Baguio,
Philippines. Photo taken in
December 1, 2009 in Baguio City,
Philippines. Retrieved September 24,
2020, from
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-
photo/baguio-city-philippines-

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 APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

Directions: Answer the following questions. Write your answer on your answer
sheet.
1. Observe your community, is there a chance that geological hazards may
occur?
2. What must be the cause/s of these hazards?

REFLECT!
Congratulations on finishing the supplementary learning module! You
have just had an amazing learning journey and for sure, you will also do the
same in the succeeding modules.
Finally, share your final insights by completing the following sentence
prompts.

I have learned that _____________________________________________.

I wish to ask my teacher about ____________________________________.

LEARN MORE!
1. Watch the video entitled “What causes a landslide?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCxvbosa4fU to fully understood our
lesson.
2. Write a 150-word essay on how we can prevent these geological hazards.

ASSESS WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

Directions: Write T if the statement is correct and F if incorrect.

1. Sinkholes can be formed by a massive earthquake.
2. Deforestation does not affect the stability of the soil.
3. Land subsidence occur due to saturated soil and bedrock.

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 4. Landslide typically happen on an area with no mountains or slope.
5. The balance of the force of friction among sediments and gravity prevents
landslides.

GLOSSARY

The following terms used in this module

are defined as follows…

Deforestation - clearance, clearcutting or clearing is the

removal of a forest or stand of trees from land which is then
converted to a non-forest use.
Kaingin - a technique of clearing land by slashing and
burning underbrush and trees
Landslide - defined as the movement of a mass of rock,
debris, or earth down a slope.
Mining - the extraction of valuable minerals or other
geological materials from the Earth
Slope - any ground in which surface forms an angle with the plane of the horizon.

ANSWER KEY

Try this! Asses what you have learned

1. C 1. T
2. D 2. F
3. D 3. T
4. D 4. F
5. B 5. T

Do This
1. Rockfall/creep
2. Landslide/mudflow
3. Landslide/rockfall/mudflow/debris avalanche
4. Landslide/rockfall/mudflow/ debris avalanche

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Explore
1. Yes. Because of the instability of the soil due to different man made
activities and natural phenomenon.
2. Deforestation, mining, kaingin, earthquake, heavy rains, conversion of
mountains to housing projects

REFERENCES

Astley, D. (2019, December 30). Best Philippines Road Trips: Circumnavigation of

North Luzon. Retrieved September 24, 2020, from
https://www.xyzasia.com/home/best-philippines-road-trips-circumnavigation-
north-luzon

The Barangay Bato landslide cluster from the 2019 Cotabato earthquakes. (2019,
November 12). Retrieved September 24, 2020, from
https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2019/11/12/2019-cotabato-earthquakes-2

BERNADETTE PARCO, G. (2018, September 25). Naga, Cebu execs informed of

landslide-prone areas as early as 2008. Retrieved September 24, 2020, from
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/668965/naga-cebu-execs-
informed-of-landslide-prone-areas-as-early-as-2008-mgb-documents/story/

Horton, J., & Mancini, M. (2020, January 27). How Landslides Work. Retrieved
September 16, 2020, from
https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/landslide3.ht
m

Landslides Mudslides. (2010, October 21). Retrieved September 24, 2020, from
https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2009/05/19/landslide-in-campostela-
valley-philippines-25-people-killed/

LGU sets demolition of 720 houses in Itogon, Benguet - UNTV News. (2018, October
29). Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://www.untvweb.com/news/lgu-
sets-demolition-of-720-houses-in-itogon-benguet/

Naga City landslide: An enormous mining-induced slip in the Philippines. (2018,

September 24). Retrieved September 24, 2020, from
https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2018/09/21/naga-city-landslide-1/

Parena, Juliano Jr. S. 2016. Exploring Life Through Science Disaster

Readiness and Risk Reduction. Phoenix Publishing House. Quezon
City. pp 150-171.

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Rodina, M. (2014, February 23). Massive logging leaves deep scars in Eastern Europe.
Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://phys.org/news/2014-02-massive-
deep-scars-eastern-europe.html

The Telegraph, What causes a landslide?|Natural Disasters”, November 30, 2016.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCxvbosa4fU

Verin, E. (n.d.). BAGUIO CITY, PHILIPPINES - DECEMBER 1: Cluster of various

houses built on a hill in the City of Baguio, Philippines. Photo taken in December
1, 2009 in Baguio City, Philippines. Retrieved September 24, 2020, from
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/baguio-city-philippines-december-
1-cluster-63970273

What causes a sinkhole. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2020, from

https://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/My-Water/Sinkholes/Pages/What-causes-a-
sinkhole.aspx

What causes landslides and mudslides? (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2020, from
https://earthsky.org/human-world/what-causes-landslides

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