Copyright Information: All images are in the public domain and available for free. If you use this image, credit NOAA/NGDC, B. Bradley, University of Colorado at Boulder. |
The avalanche started as a sliding mass of glacial ice and rock. The avalanche swept about 16.5 km to Yungay at a speed of 210 to 280 km/hr. The fast-moving mass picked up glacial deposits and by the time it reached Yungay, it is estimated to have consisted of about 50 to 100 million m3 of water, mud, and rocks. Image Credit: B. Bradley. University of Colorado at Boulder May 31, 1970 Huaraz Peru earthquake In 1970, an earthquake-induced rock and snow avalanche on Mt. Huascaran, Peru, buried the towns of Yungay and Ranrahirca. The magnitude 7.8 earthquake killed 66,794 and caused $250 million in property damage. Several towns were almost totally destroyed. With factors of landslides and floods, was one of the largest disasters in the Southern Hemisphere. Event Data:
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