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In 1970, an earthquake-induced rock and snow avalanche on Mount Huascaran, Peru, buried the towns of Yungay and Ranrahirca. The death toll from the landslide was 20,000. The avalanche started as a sliding mass of glacial ice and rock. The avalanche swept about 16.5 km to the village of Yungay at a speed of 210-280 km/hr. The fast- moving mass picked up glacial deposits and by the time it reached Yungay, it consisted of 50-100 million m3 of water, mud, and rocks. Image Credit: G. Pflafker. U.S. Geological Survey 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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