The Catak landslide disaster, Trabzon Province, Turkey

Jones D. K. C., Lee E. M., Hearn G. J., Genc S.

TERRA NOVA, vol.1, no.1, pp.84-90, 1989 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 1 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 1989
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/j.1365-3121.1989.tb00331.x
  • Journal Name: TERRA NOVA
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.84-90
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The Catak landslide (Trabzon Province, Turkey) developed retrogressively upslope through a series of small slips, culminating with the catastrophic rock avalanche of 23rd June, 1988 when at least 66 people were killed. The landslide was caused by prolonged heavy rainfall triggering a failure in a partially supported 25-m high road cutting in colluvium, which progressively removed support for the higher parts of the slope and resulted in the catastrophic slide. Such high-magnitude events are not uncommon in the Black Sea Mountains but the recent disaster highlights the need for systematic landslide hazard assessments in the region.