Preliminary assessment of landslides resulting from the earthquake of 23rd November 1980 in Southern Italy

Abstract

This paper examines the hazards, mechanisms and effects of landsliding provoked by the 1980 earthquake in Campania and Basilicata Regions, Southern Italy. The effects of seismically-induced mass-movement are assessed with respect to slope stability and damage to both settlements and roads. Whereas the mechanism of cyclic loading of soils, which can give rise to landslides, is different from the pore-pressure, gravity loading and strength-reduction mechanisms that normally cause slope failure, the morphology of slides is often indistinguishable and this made it difficult to identify which slides were directly caused by the earthquake. However, creep in potential shear planes undoubtably became more widespread, and the incidence of small, bowl-shaped slides Increased as a direct result of the earthquake. Although variations in the detailed stress-pattern within individual slopes meant that some very mobile soil and rock masses did not move, 36 settlements reported landslide damage and 29 roads were affected by landslides occurring during the earthquake and its immediate aftermath. A full assessment of the disaster, together with an explanation of the geography of the disaster area, can be found in Alexander (1982).