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Mechanism and future risk of slope instability induced by extreme rainfall event in Izu Oshima Island, Japan

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Abstract

A volcanic slope in Izu Oshima Island in Japan experienced a profound rain-induced disaster in October 2013. Since this slope had been stable for centuries except for minor failures, a special investigation was carried out on the cause. Because of its volcanic origin, the failed slope consisted of layers of ash, sand and lava. While the investigation concerned many disciplines, the present paper addresses one part of the geotechnical studies. The particular emphasis was put on the reason why some part of the slope “did not” fail because the post-disaster construction of infrastructures in the affected area relied on the future stability of the affected mountain slope. In line with this, another focus of the study was on the geohydrological feature of the underlying lava layer that possibly controlled the instability of the volcanic slope. It was concluded finally that the lava layer is pervious and allows drainage of infiltrated rainwater and that, only during extremely heavy rain, the subsurface lava topography triggered slope failure only in its “valley” parts. For 7 years after the disaster, the remaining parts of the slope have been stable as judged and many local infrastructures have been reconstructed.

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Acknowledgement

The present study was conducted as an emergency investigation after the disaster by establishing a task committee with a financial support from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Because the studied area belonged to a national park under strict protection of nature, deep appreciation is expressed to the permission and support by those related public sectors such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Oshima Municipal Government, Ministry of Environment and Geopark of Oshima (Mr. A. Kajiya). In particular, the borehole data provided by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government were essential in safety judgment of the slope. The collaboration was successfully made by four academic societies which are Japanese Geotechnical Society, Japan Society of Civil Engineers, Japan Society of Engineering Geology and Japan Landslide Society. Boring investigation on site was carried out by Chisui Kaihatsu Company. Those supports and collaboration are deeply appreciated. Then, last but not least, many more members of the task committee made important studies together with the authors and suggested valuable issues. Special thanks are dedicated to them.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kanto Gakuin University, Yokohama, Japan

    Ikuo Towhata

  2. Yamanashi University, Kofu, Japan

    Satoshi Goto

  3. Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan

    Shigeru Goto

  4. Fudo Tetra Corporation, Tokyo, Japan

    Takeshi Akima & Junya Tanaka

  5. Saitama University, Saitama, Japan

    Taro Uchimura

  6. DPRI, Kyoto University, Uji, Japan

    Gonghui Wang

  7. Chuo Kaihatsu Corporation, Tokyo, Japan

    Hiroshi Yamaguchi

  8. University of Tokyo, Bunkyo City, Japan

    Shogo Aoyama

Authors
  1. Ikuo Towhata
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  2. Satoshi Goto
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  3. Shigeru Goto
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  4. Takeshi Akima
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  6. Taro Uchimura
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  7. Gonghui Wang
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  8. Hiroshi Yamaguchi
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  9. Shogo Aoyama
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The authors worked as a team to carry out this study.

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Correspondence to Ikuo Towhata.

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Towhata, I., Goto, S., Goto, S. et al. Mechanism and future risk of slope instability induced by extreme rainfall event in Izu Oshima Island, Japan. Nat Hazards 105, 501–530 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-020-04321-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-020-04321-0

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