Landslide Occurances at Maierato, Italy. An Engineering Geological View

This paper focuses on the 15th February, 2010 Maierato landslide in the Calabria region of Italy. The slide is believed to have been induced by heavy rainfall and happened just west of the town. The Italian basin of the Mediterranean and the peninsula are often affected by patterns of intense precipitation. About 2300 people have been evacuated just before the slide happened. No deaths or injuries have been reported. The authorities have predicted that a landslide could be happening as they have indicated the signs on the road (Figure A1) The town of Maierato was affected by slope instability not only due to the heavy rainfall but also due to the existing geological structure, the plastic properties of soil of sliding surface, infiltration of water into the soil , erosion of soil at the toe of the slide and increasing ground water level. Back analysis indicates that cohesion is the most critical factor contributing to slope stability.