Landslide Disasters Triggered by Extreme Rainfall Events: The Case of Montescaglioso (Basilicata, Southern Italy)

Maurizio Lazzari,Marco Piccarreta

doi:10.3390/geosciences8100377

Abstract

We present the results of the study of a large and rapid landslide disaster event, which occurred in Montescaglioso, southern Italy, on 3 December 2013. The studied landslide developed following extreme rainfalls in a zone characterized by a stabilized paleo-landslide body and anthropized in time, filling some streams of the original hydrographic network. The morpho-topographic setting characterizing the slope before the new landslide, has showed, in fact, a substantial stability confirmed also by the application of SINMAP (Stability Index MAPping) analysis. Nevertheless, heavy rains and floods caused a powerful and spectacular landslide event because of the anthropic removal of the old drainage network, which has caused the heaviness of the slope located upstream of the 20 collapsed buildings and along the ill-drained quick-road, built transversely to the slope.

Highlights

IntroductionThe Basilicata region (southern Italy) has the highest density of landslides, with more than 27 landslide areas every 100 km2 [1,2,3]
The Basilicata region has the highest density of landslides, with more than 27 landslide areas every 100 km2 [1,2,3]
This high landslide density is related to predisposing conditions, such as prevailing clay materials as well as the morphological setting of the slopes, and to conditions such as extreme rainfall events [4,5] or human activity, such as cave excavation [6], deforestation [7]

Summary

Introduction

The Basilicata region (southern Italy) has the highest density of landslides, with more than 27 landslide areas every 100 km2 [1,2,3]. This high landslide density is related to predisposing conditions, such as prevailing clay materials as well as the morphological setting of the slopes, and to conditions such as extreme rainfall events [4,5] or human activity, such as cave excavation [6], deforestation [7]. Large and frequent landslides have affected urbanized areas of Basilicata causing severe and extensive damage to structures and infrastructures. The south-eastern portion of the region was affected from October 2013 to

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion