Landslide Photo Collections

Searchable USGS Photo and Multimedia Archive with Ordering Information

On February 17, 2006, a disastrous rockslide-debris avalanche occurred in tropical mountain terrain, on Leyte Island, Central Philippines. Over 1100 people perished when the village of Guinsaugon was overwhelmed directly in the path of the landslide. The landslide was initiated by the failure of a 450 m high rock slope within the damage zone of the Philippine Fault where the rock mass consisted of sheared and brecciated volcanic, sedimentary and volcaniclastic rocks. Tectonic weakening of the failed rock mass had resulted from active strike-slip movements along the Philippine Fault which have been estimated by other workers at 2.5 cm/year. The landslide involved a total volume of 15 Mm3, including significant entrainment from its path, and ran out a horizontal distance of 3800 m over a vertical distance of 810 m, equivalent to a fahrböschung of 12°. Run-out distance was enhanced by friction reduction due to undrained loading when the debris encountered flooded paddy fields in the valley bottom at a path distance of 2600 m. For more information, please see the report by Evans, et al., 2007, online: http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/7/89/2007/nhess-7-89-2007.pdf

  • 060221-N-2970T-008 Guinsaugon, Philippines (Feb. 21, 2006) – Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) pitch tents and create temporary homes while assisting with the rescue and recovery effort. In the past two days, more than 275 31st MEU Marines have been flown to the island to help in the devastating landslide that struck southern Leyte on Feb. 17, 2006. Essex along with the dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) are part of the Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force, homeported in Sasebo, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Marvin E. Thompson Jr. (RELEASED)
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  • 060221-N-2970T-038 Leyte, Philippines (Feb. 21, 2006) - A CH-46E Sea Knight assigned to the \"Flying Tigers\" of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron Two Six Two (HMM-262) flies to a landing area to unload personnel and supplies for survivors of the devastating landslide that struck southern Leyte on Feb. 17, 2006. Essex along with the dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) are part of the Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force, homeported in Sasebo, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Marvin E. Thompson Jr. (RELEASED)
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  • 060218-N-5067K-109 Saint Bernard, Philippines (Feb. 19, 2006) A CH-46E From the Flying Tigers of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (HMM-262) off the USS Essex (LHD 2) passes the area effected by the landslide. Essex is currently on station off the coast providing humanitarian aid and assistance. (Official U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer\'s Mate 1st Class Michael D. Kennedy)
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  • 060221-N-2970T-005 Guinsaugon, Philippines (Feb. 21, 2006) - A Marine assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) embarked aboard USS Essex (LHD 2) awaits land transportation to the landslide area to assist with rescue and recovery efforts. In the past two days, more than 275 31st MEU Marines have been flown to the island to help in the devastating landslide that struck southern Leyte on Feb. 17, 2006. Essex along with the dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) are part of the Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force, homeported in Sasebo, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Marvin E. Thompson Jr. (RELEASED)
    philippinea1...
  • B2 060218-N-5067K-113 Southern Leyte, Philippines (Feb. 19, 2006) Aerial view of the area affected by the landslide shot from a CH-46E “Sea Knight” helicopter off the USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is currently on station off the coast providing humanitarian aid and assistance. (Official U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer\'s Mate 1st Class Michael D. Kennedy)
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  • The 2006 Leyte, Philippine Debris Avalanche (photo from: http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/7/89/2007/nhess-7-89-2007.pdf)
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  • The 2006 Leyte, Philippines debris avalanche headscarp (photo from: http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/7/89/2007/nhess-7-89-2007.pdf)
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  • This photo is public domain. 060219-M-8084P-001 Saint Bernard, Republic of the Philippines (Feb. 19, 2006) - An aerial view of the mudslide, which destroyed the town of Guinsahugon the morning of Feb. 17. Guinsahugon is located in the southern part of the island of Leyte in the Philippines. The photo was taken from a CH-46E Sea Knight which was being flown to Guinsahugon to deliver relief supplies. The helicopter is from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's aviation combat element Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced). The MEU, based out of Okinawa, Japan, is deployed to the Philippines as part of the Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) based out of Sasebo, Japan and was in the Philippines to take part in exercise Balikatan 2006 before responding to a request for aid by the Philippine government. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Raymond D. Petersen III (RELEASED)
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