Week 8: Landslides in Jamaica

This week, we discussed mass wasting, which is defined as any type of downslope movement of Earth materials. Mass wasting is more generally referred to using simple terms such as landslides, mudslides, rockfalls, and debris flows. Furthermore, mass wasting events do not require any triggers, but rather occur due to the influence of gravity. 

Earthquakes trigger landslides. Can landslides also trigger earthquakes? | Science | AAAS

Aside from floods, landslides are the most frequently occurring natural hazard that Jamaica experiences. Moreover, they are typically caused by seismic activity, as well as heavy rainfall from hurricanes and tropical depressions. These mass wasting events have resulted is loss of lives, destruction to both infrastructural and natural environments, and long-term damage to Jamaica's socioeconomic development. From November 16th-18th in 2023 alone, landslides caused by heavy rainfall damaged road networks so badly, repair costs were estimated by the National Works Agency to be $409 million. 

On June 7, 1692, a massive earthquake occurred in the town of Port Royal, Jamaica, which claimed the lives of thousands. Not only did the earthquake result in a large tsunami, but it also caused the largest landslide in Jamaica's history, leading to loosely packed soil sinking various buildings into the ground. These buildings sank to the point where they became uninhabitable, and a deadly landslide also occurred in Spanish Town, Jamaica, killing a total of 50 people. Rather than rebuild Port Royal after such mass devastation, discouraged survivors decided to build Kingston, which is now the the largest city in Jamaica. 

Sunken Pirate City: The Port Royal Earthquake of 1692 – Beachcombing Magazine

In order to mitigate the hazards caused by mass wasting events, the Jamaican Information Service provides the public with safety tips for during and after a landslide occurs. For example, before a landslide they suggest to tune into the local news and monitor updates on evacuation notices, evacuate immediately if a landslide is suspected to occur, inform neighbors who may be at risk, listen for unusual sounds to be aware of moving debris, and stay awake to monitor changes in your surroundings because many landslides deaths occur during sleep. Conversely, after a landslide, they suggest to steer clear of affected areas until instructed otherwise to avoid additional landslides, look for trapped and injured individuals, report damaged utility lines to authorities, and get help from geotechnical experts to evaluate the hazards of landslide areas. Lastly, the Jamaican Information Service suggest that to the public that they pack emergency kits with items such as  first aid kit, flashlight with extra batteries, three-day water supply, three-day food supply, battery-powered radio, and copies of important documents. 

Jamaica Information Service - YouTube

References: 

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.1201/9781315166841-15/landslides-jamaica-servel-miller-anestoria-shalkowski-norman-harris-dionne-richards-lyndon-brown#:~:text=Of%20these%20hazards,%20slope%20instability,with%20hurricanes%20and%20tropical%20depressions. 

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/earthquake-destroys-jamaican-pirate-haven 

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2023/11/21/heavy-rains-cost-409-million-in-damage-holness/ 

https://jis.gov.jm/information/tips/landslide-safety-tips/ 

https://jis.gov.jm/information/tips/landslide-safety-tips/  

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