Week 8: Mass Wasting Events
Honduras is vulnerable to mass wasting events because of its topography, rainfall, and geological conditions. The country experiences various mass movements, including landslides, rockfalls, and debris flows. These are triggered by factors such as intense storms, earthquakes, deforestation, and soil erosion. Each year, during the rainy season from May to November, the risk of these events increases. The main types of mass movements observed in Honduras include landslides , debris flows, and rockfalls. Landslides frequently occur in mountainous areas with steep slopes. For instance, one was triggered by Hurricane Mitch in 2002 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Heavy rains saturate the soil, destabilizing slopes and leading to significant landslides that can devastate communities. Debris flows often occur after prolonged rainfall or rapid snowmelt, when loose material becomes saturated with water and flows rapidly down slopes. It can be particularly destructive as it carries a mixture of water
