Oso Landslide

The landslide occurred in the town of Oso located in Washington State on 22 March 2014 at 10:37am. An area of 1 sq miles was covered by the landslide that occurred on a hillside known as Hazel Landslide. According to the USGS the main cause of the landslide was recent rain and soil saturation.

30 houses have been covered and about a mile of main road. The debris from the landslide blocked the North Fork Stillaguamish River, increasing the risk of downstream flooding.

29 people have been confirmed dead and 20 are missing. Although the search continues, it is unlikely that survivors will now be found. There are also fears that some bodies may never be recovered.

The estimated cost for the damage is $10 million and a further $32.1 million for the rescue and recovery effort.

Source: CNN

Source: USGS

Source: National Geographic