The Effects of Mass Movement

1. The Effects of Mass Movement Social, environmental, economic, short term and long term.

2. Case study: The Aberfan Disaster. • 144 dead, 116 of them were school children. • 20 houses ruined • No people were found alive after 11am on the day of the disaster – it was a week before all bodies were recovered. • The disaster led to a Mines and Quarries Act 1969 Social impacts • Death • Grief for lost friends and relatives • Damage to infrastructure • Evacuation may be needed • Damage to houses and loss of property • Stress • Damage to important community buildings e.g. hospitals, schools etc.. • Damage to education • People may be buried in rubble (suffocation)

3. Can destroy forests Can ruin crops Can destroy habitats Damage to the slope Floods from avalanches and blocked rivers Case Study – The Aberfan Disaster 140,000 tonnes of debris Landslide – 40ft high Damage to the surrounding ecosystems Damage to the slope Environmental Impacts

4. Debt of clean up operations Damage to economy – loss of profits Cost of future insurance payments on houses and property Case Study – The Aberfan Disaster A disaster fund was created for bereaved families – total of £1,750,000. £50 of this fund was given to each family Farm destroyed – damaging local businesses The disaster fund paid £150,000 for the removal of the remaining tips (Coal Board refused to accept responsibility) Economic Impacts

5. Short Term Effects • Death • Evacuation procedures • Injury may be high • Potential short term disturbance to emergency services • General panic among residents

6. Long Term Effects • Debt • Clear up operations • Massive re-building projects • Long term grief for lost family members • Insurance repayments • Restore order back to the village/area affected