Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Laalam (Algeria) damaging landslide triggered by a moderate earthquake (Mw = 5.2)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

On March 20th, 2006, a moderate earthquake (Mw = 5.2) struck the Laalam (NE-Algeria). The damage was centred in the Laalam village where four deaths, 68 injured and more than 40 housing units destroyed making dozens of peoples homeless. Damage and casualties are directly related to an earthquake-induced landslide occurred at 10 km far from the epicenter (ISC relocation). The landslide rupture, mapped by using a ground based survey, is striking NE-SW along a 1-km length rupture with a 45 cm of lateral displacement. The rupture plan is dipping 40° at the surface and showing horizontal striations. A 75 cm of pre-2006 lateral displacement is also observed indicating a repetitive behaviour of the landslide. The last time where the landslide was activated extends back to 1974 following another moderate earthquake. This landslide reminds us the high level hazard of induced ground failures due slope instabilities in mountainous zones of seismically active areas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ambraseys NN, Vogt J (1988) Material for the investigation of the seismicity of the region of Algiers. Euro Earth Eng 3:16–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Argus DF, Gordon RG, De Mets C, Stein S (1989) Closure of the Africa-Eurasia-North America plate motion circuit and tectonics of the Gloria fault. J Geophys Res 94:5585–5602

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benouar D (1994) Material for the investigation of the seismicity of Algeria and adjacent regions during the twentieth century. Annali di geofisica XXXVII (4):860 p

  • Bird JF, Bommer JJ (2004) Earthquake losses due to ground failure. Eng Geol 75(2):147–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bommer JJ, Rodriguez CE (2002) Earthquakes- induced landslides in Central America. Eng Geol 63(3/4):189–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouhadad Y (2001) The Murdjadjo, western Algeria, fault-related fold: implication for seismic hazard. J Seismol 5:541–558

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouhadad Y et al (2003) The Beni-Ourtilane-Tachaouaft fault and seismotectonic aspects of the Babor region (NE of Algeria). J Seismol 7:79–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouhadad Y, Nour A, Slimani A, Laouami N, Belhai D (2004) The Boumerdes (Algeria) earthquake of May 21, 2003 (MW = 6.8): ground deformation and intensity. J Seismol 8:497–506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Mets C, Gordon RC, Argus DF, Stein S (1990) Current plate motion. Geophys J Intern 101:425–478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deverchère J, Yelles K, Domzig A, Mercier de Lépinay B, Bouillin JP, Gaullier V, Bracène R, Calais E, Savoye B, Kherroubi A, Le Roy P, Pauc H, Dan G (2005) Active thrust faulting offshore Boumerdes, Algeria, and its relations to the 2003 Mw 6.9 earthquake. Geopys Res Lett 32:L04311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El Robrini M (1986) Evolution morphostructurale de la marge structurale algérienne occidentale (Méditerranée occidentale): influence de la tectonique et de la sédimentation. Thèse d’Etat. Univ. Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris IV, 164 p

  • Gabert P (1984) Séismes, néotectoniques et effets induits sur les versants des massifs des Babors dans la région de Kherrata (Algérie). Revue géographique des pays méditerranéens 1:25–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Harbi A, Maouche S, Ayadi A (1999) Neotectonics and associated seismicity in the Eastern Tellean Atlas of Algeria. J Seismol 3:95–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hevenith HB, Strom A, Jongmans D, Abdrakhmatov K, Delvaux D, Trfois P (2003) Seismic triggering landslides, part A: field evidence from the Northern Tien Shan. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 3:135–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keefer DK (1984) Landslides caused by earthquakes. Bull Geol Soc Am 95:406–421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keefer DK, Wartman J, Ochoa CN, Rodriguez-Marek A, Wieczorek GF (2006) Landslides caused by the M 7.6 Tecoman, Mexico, earthquake of January 21, 2003. Eng Geol 86:183–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Machane D, Bouhadad Y, Chikhlounis G, Chatelain JL, Oubaiche EH, Abbes K, Guillier B, Bensalem R (2008) Examples of geomorphologic and geological hazards in Algeria. Nat Hazards 45(2):295–308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meghraoui M (1988) Géologie des zones sismiques de l’Algérie du Nord: Paléosismologie, tectonique active et Synthèse sismotectonique. Thèse Es Sci, 356 pp

  • Meghraoui M (1991) Blind reverse faulting system associated with the Mont Chenoua-Tipaza earthquake of October 29, 1988 (north central Algeria). Terra Nova 3:84–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meghraoui M, Morel JL, Andrieux J, Dahmani M (1996) Tectonique plio-quaternaire de la chaine tello-rifaine et de la mer d’Alboran. Une zone complexe de convergence continent–continent. Bull Soc Géol Fr 1:141–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Meghraoui M, Maouche S, Chemaa B, Cakir Z, Aoudia A, Harbi A, Alasset PJ, Bouhadad Y, Benhamouda F (2004) Coastal uplift and thrust faulting associated with the (Mw = 6.8) ZEMMOURI (Algeria) earthquake of 21 May, 2003. Geophys Res Lett 31:L19605

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mokrane A, Ait Messaoud A, Sebai A, Menia N, Ayadi A, Bezzeghoud M (1994) Les séismes en Algérie de 1365–1992, CRRAG, Alger, supervised by Bezzeghoud M and Benhallou H, 227 p

  • Nocquet JM, Calais E (2004) Geodetic measurements of crustal deformation in the western Mediterranean and Europe. Pure Appl Geopys 161:661–681

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owen LA, Kamp U, Khattak GA, Harp EL, Keefer DK, Bauer MA (2008) Landslides triggered by the 8 October Kashmir earthquake. Geomorphology 94:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Philip H, Meghraoui M (1983) Structural analysis and interpretation of the surface deformation of the El Asnam earthquake of October 10, 1980. Tectonics 2(1):17–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez CE, Bommer JJ, Chandler RJ (1999) Earthquake induced landslides: 1980–1997. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 18:325–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rothe JP (1950) Les séismes de Kerrata et la séismicité de l’Algérie. Bull Ser De la carte géologique de L’Algérie, pp 16–17

  • Rothe JP, Lepvrier C, Truillet R (1977) Les déformations liées au séisme de 1954 d’El-Asnam (ex- Orléanville- Algérie). Bull Soc Géol Fr 7(3):641–644

    Google Scholar 

  • Sassa K, Fukuoka H, Wang F, Wang S (2005) Dynamic properties of earthquakes—induced large scale landslides within past landslides mass. Landslides 2:125–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vogt J (1984) Mouvements de terrain associes aux séismes en Afrique du nord. Revue géographique des pays méditerranéens ½:43–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang HB, Sassa K, Xu WY (2007) Analysis of a spatial distribution of landslides triggered by the 2004 Chuestsu earthquake of Niigata prefecture, Japan. Nat Hazards 41:43–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Pr. J.J. Bommer and Pr. T. Glade for their valuable remarks. We thank also Dr. Maouche S from CRAAG for his suggestions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center of Applied Research in Earthquake Engineering (CGS), 1 rue kadour rahim, H.Dey, BP. 252, Algiers, Algeria

    Y. Bouhadad, A. Benhamouche, H. Bourenane, A. Ait Ouali, M. Chikh & N. Guessoum

Authors
  1. Y. Bouhadad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Benhamouche
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Bourenane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Ait Ouali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. Chikh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. N. Guessoum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Y. Bouhadad.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bouhadad, Y., Benhamouche, A., Bourenane, H. et al. The Laalam (Algeria) damaging landslide triggered by a moderate earthquake (Mw = 5.2). Nat Hazards 54, 261–272 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-009-9466-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-009-9466-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation