Are Increasing Incidences of Mudslides/Landslides the
consequence of Global Warming?
ICMS, Inc Reports
Tom Okure, Ph.D
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Mudslides and landslides are a natural phenomenon but are
increasingly frequent, perhaps as a result of increasing and more intensive
rains, overflowing rivers and earthquakes around the globe.
 |
| Mudslide in Freetown, Sierra Leone-August 2017 |
There is a growing general
consensus among scientist and climate experts that the earth is warming and
producing adverse climatic and weather effects.
This year 2017, has witnessed more than its fair share of
mudslides/landslides which has racked havoc on lives and property in many
countries and all continents of the world including Southern California, Southwest
Colombia, Lima Peru, Xinmo village in Sichuan Province China, Sierra Leone, Sri
Lanka, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Napal etc.
 |
| California, USA Mudslide-January 2017 |
Landslides are activated by gravity and intensifies by heavy
rainfall after a dry weather period in which the ground in a hill or mountainside
can suddenly become saturated with water. An over saturated ground generally becomes
waterlogged and soil friction is loosened. Eventually, the ground gives way and
mudslides can rapidly develop and speed up with heavy debris merged with huge rocks
which can inflict severe damage.
 |
| Lima, Peru Mudslide - March 2017 |
The severity in terms of the cost to life and property of
the incidences of mudslides/landslides are huge.
In many developing countries like
Sierra Leone, Napal, Peru etc this year, the scale of these natural disasters has
been so overwhelming for many countries to handle alone. Help
is needed from other countries and international charitable organizations to donate
funds needed to buy food, water, and basic necessities, which are distributed
to families affected and displaced with the most needs In many of these
devastating events, houses and towns/villages that surround mountain and
hillsides slopes are typically buried after gushes of mud empty down under the powerful force of the water.
 |
| Columbia Mudslide-April 2017 |
It is difficult to tell people who have historically lived
around the slopes of mountains and hills to move. There are also people,
especially wealthy individuals in many countries who purposely decide to build
their homes around mountains and hillsides because of the scenic beauty etc.
 |
| Sri Lanka Mudslide-May 2017 |
The recent mudslide in Sierra Leone in West Africa which has
killed close to 500 hundred people has been blamed on many factors including
heavy rains due to global warming, deforestation of the hillside by residents for
firewood and charcoal etc. Freetown where the mudslide took place is notorious for
clogged drainage channels like many other cities in Africa because of garbage
dumping due to insufficient sanitation services in many areas.
Nevertheless,
as these events continue to increase globally, and we all internalize the fact
that global warming and earthquakes are real and intensifying in their effects,
this writer concludes with the note that sound minded people should avoid building
or residing near mountain or hill sides for their own safety.
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