A homeowners association in Southern California is urgently seeking the services of a geologist. Tragedy struck when a landslide destroyed 12 houses in Rolling Hills Estates. Furthermore, several other houses are gradually sliding towards a canyon, as reported by the Guardian. The cause of the ground’s movement remains unknown. To shed light on this perplexing situation, the city has instructed the HOA to hire an expert geologist. However, thus far, the mayor finds the process opaque, which is contributing to increased anxiety. Until expert answers are received, County Supervisor Janice Hahn stated that there is nothing that can be done to halt the ongoing events. Consequently, their only option is to wait helplessly for the homes to collapse.
Following the declaration of an emergency by the city council on Tuesday night, similar requests for assistance may be made to the Los Angeles County and California governments. On Saturday night, residents were given only 20 minutes’ notice to evacuate. Subsequently, another 10 houses on the Palos Verdes Peninsula began shifting as the ground underneath moved, according to KTLA. In addition, 17 more houses in the city were being examined, situated approximately 30 miles south of Los Angeles. In the span of 24 hours, the ground shifted by 20 feet. The situation worsened when the movement of the earth resulted in a broken sewer line, leading to the evacuation of five additional houses. Hahn emphasized the rapidity of the ground’s shifting, stating that one can audibly hear the cracking and popping noises every minute while present.
Peartree Lane, once lined with houses, is now barely visible, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. The houses have sunk below the level of their former driveways. Many conjecture that the heavy rainfall endured by the area from late last year through early this year is the cause of the landslide. Nate Onderdonk, a professor of geological sciences at Cal State Long Beach, explained that the factors contributing to a landslide include the steepness of the hillside, the type of rock beneath it, and the saturation of water in the rocks or soil. Onderdonk further noted that while the steepness and rock type do not change rapidly, the presence of water could be the key factor. (Read more landslide stories.)
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