When did the Vargas tragedy occur?

When did the Vargas tragedy occur?

December 14, 1999
Vargas tragedy/Start dates

What compounding problems on the north coast of Venezuela killed 30000 people in 1999?

Venezuela mud slides of 1999, devastating mud slides in Venezuela in December 1999. An estimated 190,000 people were evacuated, but thousands of others, likely between 10,000 and 30,000, were killed.

What caused the Vargas tragedy?

Heavy rainfall from the storm of December 14-16, 1999 triggered thousands of landslides on steep slopes of the Sierra de Avila north of Caracas, Venezuela. In addition to landslides, heavy rainfall caused flooding and massive debris flows that damaged coastal communities in the State of Vargas along the Caribbean Sea.

Why did the Vargas tragedy happen?

What were the effects of the Vargas tragedy?

In the Vargas State, the disaster destroyed lifelines such as roads and drinking water supply systems, and completely devastated seven towns in the coastal area. Thousands of houses were destroyed and many lives were lost.

What are the natural reasons Italy is at risk from mudslides?

Rainfall is the primary trigger of landslides in Italy (17); other causes are earthquakes and human activities. The impact of rainfall on the occurrence of landslides was studied for Calabria, southern Italy, for a dataset of landslides and daily rainfall records in the period 1921-2010.

What are the dangers of mudslides?

The health hazards associated with landslides and mudflows include:

  • Rapidly moving water and debris that can lead to trauma;
  • Broken electrical, water, gas, and sewage lines that can result in injury or illness; and.

What actions can humans take to prevent landslides?

There are also various direct methods of preventing landslides; these include modifying slope geometry, using chemical agents to reinforce slope material, installing structures such as piles and retaining walls, grouting rock joints and fissures, diverting debris pathways, and rerouting surface and underwater drainage.

Where is the city of Vargas in Venezuela?

Vargas, in northern Venezuela, lies on the Caribbean Sea. Separated from the capital, Caracas, by the Avila Mountains, it was once densely populated. The mountains form a National Park, within which 23 rivers run down to the coast. Easy to reach from the city, Vargas had many residential communities and a thriving tourist economy.

When did the Vargas mudslides start and end?

Torrential storms that started on December 14 disgorged 9 m (36 ft) of water. Unable to absorb anything more, the soil finally gave way, bringing water, rocks, trees and mud crashing down the mountains to the sea.

When did General Francisco Vargas take his life?

By mid-1954 criticism of the government was widespread, and the armed forces, professing shock over scandals within the regime, joined in the call for Vargas’s withdrawal. Rather than accept forced retirement, Vargas took his life on Aug. 24, 1954.

Where was President Vargas of Brazil born and raised?

Vargas was born in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, into a family prominent in state politics. Contemplating a military career, he joined the army when he was 16 but soon decided to study law.