The impact of rockfalls on dwellings during the 2011 Christchurch,New Zealand,earthquakes

Rockfalls and debris avalanches triggered by earthquakes during the 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence killed five people and caused an estimated US$400 million in damages. In total, about 200 dwellings were directly impacted by some of the ~6000 rockfalls and debris avalanches that occurred across the Port Hills of Christchurch. This research presents the results of the analysis of a high-quality database of 61 individual rockfall impacts on 29 dwellings in the Port Hills of Christchurch, New Zealand. Dwellings in the Port Hills are typically simple timber-frame structures with wooden or unreinforced masonry cladding, comparable to most dwellings across New Zealand, North America, Australia, and elsewhere. Rockfall impacts on dwellings in this study were observed to follow a power law relationship between kinetic energy and (1) the runout distance into and through the dwelling and (2) the impacted area within the dwelling. The results have been quantified and are presented as a damage proportion, which is defined as the proportion of the area affected by an individual rock block inside the dwelling divided by the total area of the dwelling. These data provide a fundamental input for rockfall risk analysis and will allow the losses from rockfall impacts to be better constrained.     

高速远程滑坡滑震研究述评

高速运动的滑坡体与下伏不平顺运动路径间的强烈动力相互作用将产生地震波,即滑震。滑震作为一种独特的研究视角,可为高速远程滑坡运动特征的研究提供前所未有的细节化体现和无与伦比的定量化数据支撑。通过对国内外已有研究成果的归纳梳理,对高速远程滑坡滑震研究的发展过程和研究现状进行了概略性述评:首先,对滑震相关研究近百年来的历史进程和发展趋势进行了归纳;其次,通过对比不同运动行为产生滑震信号的过程,阐述了滑震波的典型信号特征;进一步地,基于不同频段的滑震信号特征,从高速远程滑坡基本特征识别、高速远程滑坡运动学过程和运动特征推演等方面,对现有研究成果进行了述评,探讨了滑震手段推进高速远程滑坡动力学研究的重要贡献和巨大潜力;在此基础上,从滑震数据库的建立和完善、滑震波动机理理论模型的优化与发展、滑震波与滑坡接触力的耦合分析以及多学科交叉融合4个方面对下一步的研究工作进行了讨论和展望。     

An approach to mass movements in the Jiuzhaigou catchment

This paper presents a preliminary study of the main types, features, genesis, and countermeasures of mass movements in the Jiuzhaigou catchment, which is one of the most scenic regions in China. The main features are debris flows, rock-segment flows, landslides, and avalanches. Rough relief, fractured rocks, drifts, steep slopes, intensive rainstorms, and earthquakes produced their geneses. Countermeasures should include the integration of engineering and biological projects.     

Activity and distribution of geohazards induced by the Lushan earthquake,April 20, 2013

An Ms7.0 earthquake, focal depth 13 km, struck Lushan on April 20, 2013, caused 196 deaths and 21 missing, 13,484 injuries, and affected more than two million people. A field investigation was taken immediately after the quake, and the induced hazards were analyzed in comparison with the Wenchuan earthquake. We have identified 1,460 landslides and avalanches and four dammed lakes, which were generally small and concentrated on high elevation. Avalanches and rockfalls developed in cliffs and steep slopes of hard rocks, including Jinjixia of Baosheng Town and Dayanxia of Shuangshi Town, Lushan, and the K317 section the Xiaoguanzi section north to Lingguan Town along the provincial highway S210. Landslides were relatively less, mainly in moderate and small scales, developing in sandstone, shale, and loose colluviums. Only one single large landslide was observed to turn into debris slide-flow. Dammed lakes were formed by avalanches and landslides, all in small size and of low danger degree. The earthquake-induced hazards distributed in belt on the hanging wall along the faults, and their major controlling factors include tectonics, lithology, structure surface, and landform. More than 99 % landslides were within 30 km to the epicenter, and 678 within 10 km, accounting for 46 % of the total; about 50 % landslides were distributed on slopes between 35° and 55°, and 11 % on slope exceeding 75°; 60 % on slopes at the altitudes between 1,000 and 1,500 m, 77 % on slopes between 900 and 1,500 m; and 24 and 62 % in hard rocks and section between hard and soft rocks, respectively. Compared with the case of Wenchuan earthquake, both the number and extension of landslides and avalanches in Lushan earthquake-affected area are much smaller, only 5.53 % in number and 0.57 % in area. The earthquake has increased the instability of slope and potentiality of landslide and debris flow. Accordingly, the active period is expected to be relatively short comparing with that in Wenchuan earthquake-hit area. However, the insidious and concealed hazards bring difficulty for risk investigation.     

近水平岩层阶状斜坡地震动响应特征分析

川南中低山地区近水平岩层侵蚀台地阶状斜坡普遍发育且主要为居住区,研究这类阶状斜坡的地震动响应对揭示珙县地区震后崩塌山体灾害发育的动力机理有一定意义.宜宾地震后余震频发,安置在珙县五同村斜坡不同位置的强震监测仪于2020年9月6日成功监测到MS3.1级余震,通过各监测点之间实测地震动数据相应的比较发现:与位于一级台阶处的...     

Does vertical seismic force play an important role for the failure mechanism of rock avalanches? A case study of rock avalanches triggered by the Wenchuan earthquake of May 12, 2008, Sichuan,China

The Wenchuan earthquake triggered 15,000 rock avalanches, rockfalls and debris flows, causing a large number of causalities and widespread damage. Similar to many rock avalanches, field investigations showed that tensile failure often occurred at the back edge. Some soil and rock masses were moved so violently that material became airborne. The investigation indicates that this phenomenon was due to the effect of a large vertical seismic motion that occurred in the meizoseismal area during the earthquake. This paper analyses the effect of vertical earthquake force on the failure mechanism of a large rock avalanche using the Donghekou rock avalanche as an example. This deadly avalanche, which killed 780 people, initiated at an altitude of 1,300 m and had a total run-out distance of 2,400 m. The slide mass is mainly composed of Sinian limestone and dolomite limestone, together with Cambrian slate and phyllite. Static and dynamic stability analysis on the Donghekou rock avalanche has been performed using FLAC finite difference method software, under the actual seismic wave conditions as recorded on May 12, 2008. The results show that the combined horizontal and vertical peak acceleration caused a higher reduction in slope stability factor than horizontal peak acceleration alone. In addition, a larger area of tensile failure at the back edge of the avalanche was generated when horizontal and vertical peak acceleration were combined than when only horizontal acceleration was considered. The force of the large vertical component of acceleration was the main reason rock and soil masses became airborne during the earthquake.     

An Overview of Some Significant Eastern Canadian Earthquakes and Their Impacts on the Geological Environment,Buildings and the Public

Numerous moderate to large earthquakes have occurred in eastern Canada. Some ofthese events had significant geological effects such as surface faulting, liquefaction,submarine slumping, rock avalanches, rock falls, landslides, railroad embankmentslides, and one tsunami. Some of these earthquakes caused considerable damage tobuildings with unreinforced masonry elements that were located on thick clay deposits. These events also had strong psychological and social impacts, mainly due to the unpreparedness of the population. To minimize these impacts, programs should be designed to map the land and offshore areas most susceptible to mass movements (Earth Sciences), to define buildings most at risk (Engineering) and to educate the public about mitigation actions (Education, science popularization).     

Dynamics of the Niumiangou Creek rock avalanche triggered by 2008 Ms 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake, Sichuan, China

The Niumiangou Creek rock avalanche was triggered by an M_s 8.0 earthquake that happened on 12 May 2008 in the Sichuan Province, China. The rock avalanche traveled a horizontal distance of 3.0 km over a vertical elevation difference of 0.89 km, equivalent to a coefficient of friction of only 0.29. The travel path of the rock avalanche can be divided into three segments: (1) failing and disintegrating, (2) flying, (3) flowing. In the failing and disintegrating segment, the rock slope failed because of the coupled action of horizontal and vertical force of the earthquake, then smashed into the opposite mountain and disintegrated. In the flying segment, the disintegrating rock mass changed direction and flew into the Lianhuaxin Creek, which was different from the previous research results that concluded rock debris flowed in Lianhuaxin Creek. A great amount of air trapped and compressed under the rock debris acted as air cushion and supported the rock debris to fly a further distance. In the flowing segment, the rock debris flowed on the ground surface in Niumiangou Creek. The flowing velocity has been estimated from the maximum elevation and runup according to the damaged trimlines of the debris. The saturated fine material in Niumiangou Creek entrained by the failed debris mass is thought to have contributed to the long runout of the debris. The Niumiangou Creek rock avalanche is one of the three longest rock avalanches triggered by Wenchuan earthquake. The conclusions of the paper have implications for hazard assessment of potential rock avalanches in the earthquake area and the other similar mountainous area in west China.     

Response and Stability of Underground Structures in Rock Mass during Earthquakes

Underground structures are well known to be earthquake resistant. However, the recent earthquakes showed that underground structures are also vulnerable to seismic damage. There may be several reasons such as high ground motions and permanent ground movements. This study attempts to describe various forms of damage to underground structures such as tunnels, caverns, natural caves and abandoned mines during major earthquakes. Results of various model tests on shaking table are also presented to show the effect of ground shaking on the response and collapse of underground structures in continuum and discontinuum. Furthermore, some empirical equations are proposed to assess the damage to underground structures, which may be useful for quick assessments of possible damage.     

Timing of rockfalls in the Mont Blanc massif (Western Alps): evidence from surface exposure dating with cosmogenic <Superscript>10</Superscript>Be

Rockfalls and rock avalanches are a recurrent process in high mountain areas like the Mont Blanc massif. These processes are surveyed due to the hazard they present for infrastructure and alpinists. While rockfalls and rock avalanches have been documented for the last 150 years, we know very little about their frequency since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). In order to improve our understanding, it is imperative to date them on a longer timescale. A pilot campaign using Terrestrial Cosmogenic Nuclide (TCN) dating of five samples was carried out in 2006 at the Aiguille du Midi (3842 m a.s.l.). In 2011, a larger scale study (20 samples) was carried out in five other test sites in the Mont Blanc massif. This paper presents the exposure ages of the 2011 TCN study as well as the updated exposure ages of the 2006 study using newer TCN dating parameters. Most of these exposure ages lie within the Holocene but three ages are Pleistocene (59.87?±?6.10 ka for the oldest). A comparison of these ages with air temperature and glacier cover proxies explored the possible relationship between the most active rockfall periods and the warmest periods of the Holocene: two clusters of exposure ages have been detected, corresponding to the Middle Holocene (8.2–4.2 ka) and the Roman Warm Period (c. 2 ka) climate periods. Some recent rockfalls have also been dated (<?0.56 ka).     

Evidence of Amplification Effects in Fault Zone Related to Rock Mass Jointing

Results of geological, geomechanical and seismometric investigations aiming at the analysis of the seismic response in a carbonate ridge of the Nera River valley (Central Apennines – Italy) are discussed. Geological and geomechanical surveys were aimed at defining the stratigraphic and structural setting of the outcropping formations and the jointing conditions of the rock mass. Velocimetric records of both ambient noise and small-magnitude earthquakes were analysed in order to identify amplification conditions. The analysis was carried out in the time domain, through directional energy evaluation, and in the frequency domain, through H/V spectral ratios and spectral ratios with respect to a reference station. A local amplification factor was estimated from Housner intensity. The study revealed a significant seismic amplification in a fault zone. This effect was observed in intensely jointed and mylonitic rock masses, located inside moderately jointed rock masses, and is the result of specific geometries and significant impedance contrasts. A map of fault zones prone to amplification of ground motion was constructed, taking into account the jointing conditions of the rock masses and the structural setting of the investigated ridge. The study relied on an integrated methodological approach, which combined the available data under union and intersection criteria.     

Infrasound produced by debris flow: propagation and frequency content evolution

Rapid mass movements such as avalanches, debris flows, and rock fall are periodic or episodic phenomena that occur in alpine regions. Recent studies have shown that debris flows generate characteristic signals in the low-frequency infrasonic spectrum (4–15 Hz). Infrasound can travel thousands of kilometers and can still be detectable. This characteristic provides a basis for the development of wide area automated monitoring systems that can operate in locations unaffected by the activity of the process. This study focuses on the infrasound vibrations produced by a debris flow at the Lattenbach torrent, Tyrol (Austria), and by two events at the Illgraben torrent, Canton of Valais (Switzerland). The Lattenbach torrent is a very active torrent, which is located in the west of Tyrol in a geologic fault zone between the Silvrettakristallin and the Northern Limestone Alps. It has a large supply of loose sediment. The Illgraben torrent, which is well known for its frequent sediment transport and debris flow activity, has been equipped with instruments for debris flow monitoring since the year 2000. This study shows that debris flow emits low-frequency infrasonic signals that can be monitored and correlated with seismic signals. During the passage of the debris flow, several surges were identified by ultrasonic gauges and detected in the time series and the running spectra of infrasonic data.     

Slope failures and tailings dam damage in the 1978 Izu-Ohshima-Kinkai earthquake

The Izu-Ohshima-Kinkai earthquake (M = 7.0 on the Richter scale) occurred at 12h24 Japan Standard Time on 14 January 1978 in Sagami Bay, and caused hazards in the eastern to central Izu Peninsula. The meizoseismal zone extended 15 km from east to west by 20 km from north to south.

The aftershock zone shifted westward to the interior of the peninsula. The largest aftershock (M = 5.8) struck the central to western part of the peninsula on 15 January, causing severe damage in its mountainous terrain.

Most of the hazards related to slope failures of sea cliffs, river cliffs and road cuttings of convex vertical section with the upper parts sloping gently and the lower parts steeply.

Large slope failures occurred close to the activated faults, indicating that the shocks and displacement were locally amplified along the activated faults.

In the meizoseismal zone, high embankments of roads and housing sites on natural slopes were damaged by slides and tension cracks between the embankment and natural ground.

Subsidence and tilting of retaining structures were generally observed. Damage to high concrete retaining walls of gravity type was due to the insufficient bearing capacity of the foundation soil. Any type of retaining structure, even if seismic-resistant, would be considered ineffective in case of failure of the back slope.

Buildings in the meizoseismal zone were damaged due to sliding of the underlying embankments and ground displacement due to the activated faults.

Falling rock blocks and sliding soil masses struck cars and houses close to the foot of cliffs and steep slopes, causing many deaths and injuries.

A number of tension cracks in the middle to upper parts of steep slopes and on the shoulders of road embankments threatened to cause secondary failures, rockfalls and avalanches during heavy rain.

At a gold and silver mine, the tailings dam of a concentration plant failed due to liquefaction of the tailings.

The above experience may throw some light on the possibility of seismic failures in mountainous countries in seismically active regions of the world.     

Numerical modeling of debris avalanche propagation from collapse of volcanic edifices

Debris avalanches produced from the collapse of volcanic edifices are destructive events that involve volumes up to two orders of magnitude larger (cubic kilometer) than most non-volcanic rock and debris avalanches. We replicate the motion and spreading of several volcanic collapses by means of a depth-averaged quasi-3D numerical code. The model assumes a frictional internal rheology and a variable basal rheology (i.e frictional, Voellmy and plastic). We back analyzed seven case-studies against observations reported in the literature to provide a set of calibrated cases. The ASTER and SRTM satellite-derived digital elevation models were used as topographic data. The numerical model captures the main features of the propagation process, including travel distance, lateral spreading and run up. At varying triggering factors and material characteristics the best fitting parameters span in a narrow interval and differ from those typical of non-volcanic rock and debris avalanches. The bulk basal friction angles (the sole parameter required in the frictional rheology) range within 3° and 7.5° whereas typical values for non-volcanic debris avalanches vary from 11° to 31°. The consistency of the back analyzed parameters is encouraging for a possible use of the model in the perspective of hazard mapping. The reconstruction of the pre-event topography is critical, and it is associated to large uncertainty. The quality of the terrain data, more than the resolution of the DEMs used, is relevant for the modeling. Resampling the original square grid to larger cell sizes determines a low increase in the back analyzed rheological parameters, as a result of the lower roughness of the terrain.     

含消落带劣化岩体的危岩边坡动力累积损伤机制研究

对消落带劣化岩体及水库诱发地震共同影响下三峡库区某典型危岩边坡的稳定性进行了研究,设计并开展了几何相似比为1:100的振动台模型试验,探讨了含消落带劣化岩体的危岩边坡动力累积损伤—失稳破坏演化全过程及其动力响应规律。研究表明：含消落带劣化岩体的危岩边坡动力累积损伤—失稳破坏全过程可归结为坡体内部损伤累积—裂隙发育—次级节理与深大裂隙贯通—失稳倾倒,同时伴随消落带岩体表层松动—掉落—破坏及内部出现渗流网—形成渗流通道—形成“凹腔”的复合破坏模式;随着地震动的持续,危岩体内部动力响应规律具有典型的“趋高”及“趋表”效应,危岩边坡表面累积位移不断增加,消落带处孔隙水压力整体增加,危岩边坡内部水平向及竖直向土压力在全阶段中整体均呈先增大后减小的规律;危岩边坡自振频率及阻尼比在全阶段整体呈减小和增加的趋势;在小震结束前阶段及强震阶段,危岩边坡损伤度曲线分别呈“S”型分布和指数型分布。     

The Wenchuan Earthquake (May 12, 2008), Sichuan Province,China, and resulting geohazards

On Monday, May 12, 2008, a devastating mega-earthquake of magnitude 8.0 struck the Wenchuan area, northwestern Sichuan Province, China. The focal mechanism of the earthquake was successive massive rock fracturing 15 km in depth at Yingxiu. Seismic analysis confirms that the major shock occurred on the Beichuan–Yingxiu Fault and that aftershocks rapidly extended in a straight northeast–southeast direction along the Longmenshan Fault zone. Fatalities approaching a total of 15,000 occurred, with a significant number resulting from four types of seismically triggered geohazards—rock avalanches and landslides, landslide-dammed lakes (“earthquake lakes”), and debris flows. China Geological Survey has identified 4,970 potentially risky sites, 1,701 landslides, 1,844 rock avalanches, 515 debris flows, and 1,093 unstable slopes. Rock avalanches and landslides caused many fatalities directly and disrupted the transportation system, extensively disrupting rescue efforts and thereby causing additional fatalities. Landslide-dammed lakes not only flooded human habitats in upstream areas but also posed threats to potentially inundated downstream areas with large populations. Debris flows become the most remarkable geohazards featured by increasing number, high frequency, and low triggering rainfall. Earthquake-triggered geohazards sequentially induced and transformed to additional hazards. For example, debris flows occurred on rock avalanches and landslides, followed by landslide-dammed lakes, and then by additional debris flows and breakouts of the landslide-dammed lakes and downstream flooding. Earthquake-induced geohazards occurred mainly along the fault zone and decreased sharply with distance from the fault. It can be anticipated that post-earthquake geohazards, particularly for debris flows, will continue for 5–10 years and even for as long as 20 years. An integrated strategy of continuing emergency response and economic reconstruction is required. The lesson from Wenchuan Earthquake is that the resulted geohazards may appear in large number in active fault regions. A plan for geohazard prevention in the earthquake-active mountainous areas is needed in advance.     

The 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquakes: context and cause of injury

The aim of this study was to investigate causes of injury during the 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquakes. Data on patients injured during the Darfield (4 September 2010) and Christchurch (22 February 2011) earthquakes were sourced from the New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation. The total injury burden was analyzed for demography, context of injury, causes of injury, and injury type. Injury context was classified as direct (shaking of the primary earthquake or aftershocks causing unavoidable injuries), action (movement of person during the primary earthquake or aftershocks causing potentially avoidable injuries), and secondary (cause of injury after shaking ceased). Nine categories of injury cause were identified. Three times as many people were injured in the Christchurch earthquake as in the Darfield earthquake (7,171 vs. 2,256). The primary shaking caused approximately two-thirds of the injuries from both quakes. Actions during the primary shaking and aftershocks led to many injuries (51.3 % Darfield and 19.4 % Christchurch). Primary direct caused the highest proportion of injuries during the daytime Christchurch quake (43.6 %). Many people were injured after shaking stopped in both events: 499 (22.1 % Darfield) and 1,881 (26.2 % Christchurch). Most of these people were injured during clean-up (320 (14.2 %) Darfield; 622 (8.7 %) Christchurch). In both earthquakes, more females than males (1,453 vs. 803 Darfield; 4,646 vs. 2,525 Christchurch) were injured (except by masonry, damaged ground, and during clean-up); trip/fall (27.9 % Darfield; 26.1 % Christchurch) was the most common cause of injury; and soft tissue injuries (74.1 % Darfield; 70.4 % Christchurch) was the most common type of injury. This study demonstrated that where people were and their actions during and after earthquakes influenced their risk of injury.     

Mass movements in tropical volcanic terrains: the case of Teziutlán (México)

During the last decade, soil degradation coupled with global climate changes has increased hydrogeological hazards in Mexico. In tropical volcanic terrains, alteration processes have enhanced the formation of clay minerals that promote water retention and result in soil/rock weakness. Intense seasonal rainfall can trigger the liquefaction and remobilization of these low-resistance terrains. During the first week of October 1999, heavy rains affected eastern Mexico, including Puebla State. As a consequence, approximately 3000 mass movements, consisting of rock and soil slides and slips, debris flows and avalanches were generated in this area. In the town of Teziutlán (Puebla), which is located on volcanic deposits, a single mass-movement event caused approximately 150 deaths. In the present work we identified two types of mass movements in the Teziutlán area—Type 1: superficial erosion of an unwelded ignimbritic sequence forming small detrital fans, and Type 2: thin soil slide/debris flow from the remobilization of a volcanic sequence composed of clay-rich paleosols interbedded with ashfall horizons. The clay-rich volcanic paleosols favored the formation of perched water tables on a hydraulic aquiclude. Positive pore-water pressures triggered the failure. Based on these results, the principal human settlement in the Teziutlán area may be threatened by future debris flows, which could cause serious harm to the dense population and severe damage to its infrastructure. It is necessary to prevent future deaths and damage by installation of mitigative measures based on detailed studies. Without any further study, it will not be possible to prevent and mitigate a natural disaster with the same magnitude as the 1999 catastrophic hydrogeological phenomena.     

Evaluating seismically induced mass movement hazard in Caramanico Terme (Italy)

Mass movements and earthquakes represent two major geological hazards in the municipal territory of Caramanico Terme (south-central Apennines). Available records revealed the contemporaneous occurrence of earthquakes and slope failures on four occasions in the last four centuries (1627, 1706, 1933, and 1984). These events, with local intensities ranging from VI to IX, generated mass movements varying from a rotational slope failure to rock/block falls. All occurred in the southern periphery of the town and involved a thick carbonate megabreccia caprock and coarse colluvia which overlie a clayey substratum. Field investigation and review of historical records helped to delimit the areas susceptible to seismically triggered rockfalls. The mapping of historic and pre-historic rockfall deposits revealed their dispersal patterns and provided the basis for a determination of potential hazard zones. We approximate the temporal hazard assessment by relating the rockfall occurrence to the probability of earthquake triggering. Considering the VI degree triggering threshold indicated by local historical data, the statistical analysis of the regional seismic activity shows that events capable of inducing rockfalls have an approximately decennial recurrence in Caramanico. The approach presented could be readily applied to other potential risk areas of Italy by exploiting the rich long-term record of historical seismicity. In general, temporal hazard estimates at relatively low intensity levels will be possible even where the seismic history of the site is only well documented for a relatively limited time interval, provided that this interval is much longer than the recurrence time of the events exceeding the threshold considered.     

Evaluation of rock falls in an urban area: the case of Boğaziçi (Erzincan/Turkey)

Disasters caused by events such as earthquake, flooding, rock falls, landslides are often encountered. However, generally, the reasons for the destructive and devastating effects of these nature events are that settlement locations were chosen without site investigation studies, or that available studies were inadequate. Such inadequacies in the field are related to inappropriate settlement location and the resulting damage caused by rock falls. This study evaluated rockfall risk in a settlement that developed in a similar manner. The study was carried out in Bo?aziçi village of Kemah (Erzincan/Turkey), which is located in a very important tectonic zone. The study site is located on the lower sections of an area with very steep cliffs and 50–75° slopes. This cliff, which is the source of rockfalls, has a slope dip of approximately 90°. The cliff comprises 25–30 m high, fractured and cracked basaltic volcanic mass. To determine block size in the study area, scanline survey measurements and block size measurements were performed on blocks that loosened and fell from the cliff face. It was found that block sizes reached 6 m³. Rockfall analyses were performed along the selected profiles using the Rockfall V.4.0 software. Kinetic energy, bounce height, horizontal location of rock end-points, and velocity of the rocks along each section were evaluated separately for each profile. This data were used to produce distribution maps for each profile and the settlement was evaluated in terms of rockfall risk. The results indicate that the study area was at risk of future rockfalls and that it would be appropriate to relocate one part of the settlement.