DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION

Police and rescue teams continue the

search for the bodies buried by the
landslide in Ucab, Itogon in Benguet on
September 17, 2018.

LANDSLIDE
& SINKHOLE

Aerial view of a deep sinkhole that opened up in Itogon,

Benguet, in the aftermath of Typhoon Lando.

Geological hazards are any geological or hydrological processes that pose a threat to
humans and natural properties. Every year, severe natural events destroy infrastructure and
cause injuries and deaths. Geological hazards may include volcanic eruptions and other
geothermal related features, earthquakes, landslides, other slope failures, mudflows, sinkhole
collapses, snow avalanches, flooding, and glacial surges and outburst floods, tsunamis, and
shoreline movements.
Most Essential Learning Competencies:
Read aloud the following: At the end of the module, I should be able to:
a. discuss the different geological hazards;
b. analyze the causes of geological hazards;
c. recognize signs of impending geological hazards;
d. interpret geological maps;
e. apply mitigation strategies to prevent loss of lives and properties;
f. recognize signs of impending hydrometeorological hazards;
g. interpret different hydrometeorological hazard maps; and
h. use available tools for monitoring hydrometeorological hazards.

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DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION

1. Geological Hazards
2. Geohazard Maps
3. Causes of geologic hazards
4. Signs of impending geologic hazard events
5. Mitigation strategies

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Through an experiment, I can be able to:
a. explain the different types and causes of landslides and sinkholes;
b. interpret geohazard maps provided by the NOAH to identify areas prone to landslide and
flooding in their barangay; and
c. analyze the stability of slope using non-expert tools for assessing susceptibility to rain-induced
landslides.

Geological Hazards
WORD SCRAMBLE: Mankind lives on the Earth. While the
ground upon which we live seems to be, for the most part,
firm, stable and static, in actuality, it is dynamic and in a
continual state of flux as the lithosphere (the Earth's outer crust) adjusts to the Earth's inner, molten
core. Also, wind, rain, rivers and streams, and human activity continually modify the Earth's surface.
Geologic Hazards are naturally occurring (or human-made) geologic conditions capable of causing
damage or loss of property and life. In the following activity, you will be able to acquaint yourself with
other geological hazards that our earth experience.

Arrange the letter found in column B to form the type of geological hazard described in column A.
This activity is your Formative Assessment 1 | M3U1 FA1.
TYPE OF GEOLOGICAL
DESCRIPTION
HAZARD
A slope collapses abruptly due to the weakened self-retainability of EOLPS AEFILRSU
the Earth under the influence of rainfall or an earthquake.

Any down-slope movement of soil and rock under the direct ADDEILLNS
influence of gravity.

Ocean waves are triggered by large earthquakes that occur near or AIMNSTU
under the ocean, volcanic eruptions, submarine landslides, onshore
landslides in which large volumes of debris fall into the water.
The rock below the land surface is limestone, carbonate rock, salt EHIKLNOS
beds, or rocks that can naturally be dissolved by groundwater
circulating through them.
Are overflowing of water onto naturally dry land. It can happen DFGILNOO
during heavy rains, when ocean waves come onshore, when the
snow melts quickly, or when dams or levees break.
The flow of water that contains large amounts of suspended DFLMOSUW
particles and silt. It has a higher density and viscosity than
streamflow.

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DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION

Geohazard Maps
Internet Scavenger Hunt 1: Geohazard mapping is vitally
essential to education, science, business, and a wide variety of public policy concerns. For example,
geohazard maps help us assess the likelihood, prepare for, and minimize damage from natural
geologic hazards. Learn more about geohazard maps and maximize these resources to mitigate or
prevent the effects of naturally occurring geologic hazards.

Watch the following videos on geohazard maps that will help you appreciate the programs and
applications created to mitigate these geologic hazards' impacts somehow. Pay attention to how
authorities develop geohazards maps and how it is utilized to mitigate natural hazards. It would help
if you also looked into different colors or legends used to signify the possible impact of rain-induced
landslide and flood.

a. https://youtu.be/X5F1_o_h40A
b. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP_Id
toQD84

This activity is focused on the Interpretation of Geohazard Map, which is your Performance TASK 2
| | M3U1 PT2 (30 points). Download geohazard maps from NOAH or NDRRMC website, follow
these steps to access NOAH

1. Go to http://noah.up.edu.ph/#/
2. Click on the search icon on the top right-hand side of the NOAH webpage, then
encode or type your municipality and province.
3. The action will zoom in to your municipality.
4. Identify the primary and secondary roads and locate your house relative to these
roads or the known establishment. Measure your house's approximate distance
to the different primary and secondary roads using the get distance button on the
site's top-left part.
5. Click the landslide button found on the left side of the website. Then click on the
Landslide hazard map; this action will lay over colors to the initial map.
6. Right-click, then click save the image. This action will download the map in jpeg
format.
7. Click the flood button found on the left side of the website. Then click on the 5
Year Flood Hazards; this action will lay over colors to the initial map.
8. Right-click, then click save the image. This action will download the map in jpeg
format.
9. Mark the approximate location of your home with a dot on the two-saved map.

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DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION

Read the rubric below for your guidance and view the downloaded map; make sure that you can
identify the different elements of the map:
I. Title II. Legend III. Map ruler
RUBRIC FOR THE PRINTED MAP WITH YOUR MARKED LOCATION (14 points)
NEEDS
CRIT
VERY GOOD GOOD FAIR IMPROVE
ERIA
MENT
• You can follow the • You can follow • You can follow the You are
instructions and the instructions instructions and unable to
ACCESS AND
LOCATION

access the site with and access the access the site with follow the
ease. site. ease. instructions
• You can pinpoint • You can pinpoint • You are unable to and access
your location on the your location on pinpoint your the site.
map. the map. location on the map.
8 6 4 2
• Readable and very • Clear Map • Small and pixelated
MAP

clear map map

6 4 2

Using your saved map and google Earth or other application that would help you identify the specific
municipalities to answer the following questions in the answers sheet provided at the last art of this
module (2 points each-16 points).
1. Where are the areas of high susceptibility to landslides? What can you conclude regarding
the topography of such areas?
2. Where are the areas of moderate susceptibility to landslides (identify at least 2)?
3. Where are the areas of low susceptibility to landslides (identify at least 2)?
4. Where are the areas of high susceptibility to flooding? What can you conclude regarding the
topography of such areas?
5. Where are the areas of moderate to low susceptibility to flooding (identify at least 2)?
6. What areas are considered generally safe during the period of heavy rain (identify at least
2)?
7. Is your house located in an area that is susceptible to rain-induced landslides?
8. Is your house located in an area that is susceptible to floods?

Causes of geologic hazards

Internet Scavenger Hunt 2: Watch the following videos:

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DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION

Then read the following resource materials:

I. USGS (2013)

II. News Direct

(2013)

III. BBC Earth

I. Homeowners Guide to Landslides Unplugged
II. Varne’s Classification of Landslides (Classifies (2013)
landslides according to material and type of
movement)

Watch each of the following videos (ranging in time from two to three minutes). After viewing each
video, identify the type of movement, slope material, and velocity of flow. Use the table to
summarize your answer.

MOVEMEN MATERIA VELOCIT

LINK
T L Y
TheGeoModels
(Feb 16, 2018)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boRum5HYyPI
(Observe only the 0:16 to 0:55, 1:42 to 2:15, 2:33 to 3:15
time stamp)
POJCDK (2007)

https://youtu.be/51C7vEAVbxk?list=PLD585D2210775E1C
D.

crazyweathernews (Aug 31, 2013)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOJfcTZME0U

CBS EVENING NEWS (2014)

https://youtu.be/_zcjbF6omWI

BBC NEWS (2015)

https://youtu.be/eeKb0fv85Ik

At this point, you will further learn about landslides and sinkholes. A corresponding PowerPoint
Presentation is provided for a thorough study.

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DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION

Signs of impending geologic

hazard events
PICTURE ANALYSIS: Many of the signs for landslides and
sinkholes appear to be similar if not identical. How, then,
can one determine what kind of hazard is present? These signs are a signal to consult an expert like
an engineering geologist or geotechnical engineer who may recommend steps to determine what
type of hazard is present in the area. However, if these signs occur in places with known sinkholes
or landslides, the likelihood that the observed signs are due to sinkholes or landslide is greater.
Besides, landslides generally do not occur in flat or level areas but sloping areas. If these signs are
observed in an open flat area, they are likely due to geological hazards other than landslides.

Study the picture below, then identify the 11 warning signs of an impending landslide according to
the numbers in the picture. Write down the letter of your answers on the space provided for.

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DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION

A Bulging ground appearing at the base (toe) of a slope or retaining wall.

B Cracks appear on slope.
C Cracks appear on the ground or in the foundation of houses, buildings and other structures.
D Doors and windows become stuck or jammed for the first time.
E Fences, retaining walls, utility posts or trees tilt or move.
F Land movements and debris downslope.
G Outside walls, walks or stairs being pulling away from the building.
H Slowly widening cracks appear on the ground or on paved areas such as paved streets,
driveways and concreted path ways.
I Water appear at the base of the slope.
J Water breaks through the ground surface in new location.
K Water pipes break.
LETTER OF YOUR ANSWERS HERE:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Reading Activity: Read the following resource materials:

I. https://inspectapedia.com/vision/Sink_hole_Detection.php
II. https://www. agiusa.com/blog/7-most-common-signs-sinkholes

Using the information obtained from the above sources, develop a list of warning signs for an
impending formation of a sinkhole. Integrate warning signs for landslides into one list, indicating
which signs are unique to landslides, unique to sinkholes, similar signs in landslides and sinkholes,
or identical for both sinkholes and landslides. Choose the letter of your answer from the box below.
Take note that if you choose letter D, you note the difference in the remarks column. Finalize your
answers in the answer sheet provided at the end of this module. This is Written Work 2 | | M3U1
WW2 (30 points).

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DISASTER READINESS & RISK REDUCTION

A. Unique to landslides C. Identical signs in both landslides and sinkholes

B. Unique to sinkholes D. Similar signs in both landslides and sinkholes with differences noted
in the remarks.

ANSWER REMARKS
SIGNS TO OBSERVE
(2POINTS) (1 POINT)
1. Cracks in exterior masonry walls and plaster finishing
2. Windows and doors become harder to close properly
3. Outside walls, walks or stairs being pulling away from the
building
4. Titled trees, posts and signs.
5. Circular patches of wilted plants
6. Observation of an actual cavity beginning to open
7. Water appearing at base of slope or in depression in the ground
8. Sediments/minerals in water
9. Tension cracks form in slope
10. Bulging at the base/toe of a slope

Mitigation strategies
Safe Slope Plan: Read the following references:
I. Layman’s Guide to Slope Maintenance for best practices in ensuring maintaining and
monitoring/observing the slope for signs of progressive failure. This part of the plan focuses on
preventive and mitigation measures.
https://www.cedd.gov.hk/filemanager/eng/content_439/elg_slope_maint.pdf

II. Simple Guide to "Dangerous Hillside Orders" to develop a plan regarding the appropriate actions
to be taken just before, during, and after a period of very heavy rainfall. This part of the plan focuses
on adaptive and preparedness measures.
https://www.cedd.gov.hk/filemanager/eng/content_441/dangerous_hillside_order_e.pdf

Access the video entitled LANDSLIDE BARRICADE AT TUBLAY. It shows the landslide fall barrier
and its surroundings located at Tublay. Study the surroundings and the barrier net; based on your
references above, evaluate the Landslide barrier if it has preventive and mitigation as well as
adaptive and preparedness components, defend your answer. You are also tasked to recommend
measures to address problems or lapses you have noticed in the barrier.