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Rainstorm-induced large-scale landslides in Northeastern Chongqing, China, August 31 to September 2, 2014

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Abstract

From August 31 to September 2, 2014, a 50-year heavy rainstorm hit the Northeastern Chongqing area, China, and caused 2340 landslides, including 80 large-scale landslides with volumes greater than 10 × 105 m3. The distribution, characteristics, and conditions contributing to the formation of these large-scale landslides are still unclear. We conducted a comprehensive analysis based on collected rainfall data, field investigations, and remote-sensing data. The results show that the distribution of these large-scale landslides coincided with variations in the rainfall intensity, with the rainfall threshold for landslide formation inferred to be 200 mm. Most of these large-scale landslides occurred in areas with low-angle slopes formed of Mesozoic interbedded sandstones and mudstones. Three representative landslides of different types were selected for detailed assessment: the Laoyaopu landslide, which is a bedding rockslide; the Xianchi Reservoir landslide, which is a bedding rockslide—debris flow; and the Wushanping landslide, which is a rotated bedding rockslide—debris flow. The leading causes of these landslides are the topographical, geological, geotechnical, and rainfall conditions. The dip-slopes with large heights are naturally conducive to the formation of large-scale rockslides. The existence of interbedded sandstones and mudstones, and the presence of extensional tensile cracks at the trailing edges of slopes, facilitates the rock fracturing and separation required to induce landslides. Aided by these conditions, rainstorms are a crucial driver for the formation of regional large-scale landslides. These findings are essential for future disaster prevention and mitigation in this area and other areas that experience similar conditions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Editor-in-Chief Arindam Basu and the anonymous reviewers for their insightful and constructive comments. The authors are also grateful to the China Meteorological Administration and Chongqing Meteorological Service, China, for providing valuable data.

Funding

This paper is supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2018YFC1504806) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41907257 and No. 42177172).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China

    Bin Li, Yang Gao & Jiawei Wan

  2. Key Laboratory of Active Tectonics and Geological Safety, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing, 100081, China

    Bin Li, Yang Gao & Jiawei Wan

  3. China Institute of Geo-Environment Monitoring, Beijing, 100081, China

    Yueping Yin

  4. China Geological Survey, Beijing, 100037, China

    Kai He

  5. Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710054, China

    Weile Wu & Han Zhang

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  1. Bin Li
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  2. Yang Gao
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Correspondence to Yang Gao.

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Li, B., Gao, Y., Yin, Y. et al. Rainstorm-induced large-scale landslides in Northeastern Chongqing, China, August 31 to September 2, 2014. Bull Eng Geol Environ 81, 271 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-022-02763-3

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