Características, dinámica y causas del movimiento en masa del Barrio El Socorro (31 de mayo de 2008) en Medellín

Abstract

The article presents the causes and dynamic of the mass movement which occurred on May 31, 2008 in the higher part of San Pedro settlement, called Las Peñitas, Medellín. This tragic event left 27 dead people, 16 injured people and 20 houses destroyed of El Socorro settlement. This event with Rosellón (1927), Media Luna (1954), Santo Domingo (1974), Villatina (1987) and El Barro (2005) represents one of the most tragic events in the Aburrá Valley history. For the characterization of the area of the event previous work from different recognized, prestigious institutions was used; for the characterization, description of the predominant dynamics of the event and its causes ground evidence collected on the terrain and visual inspection the same day when it occurred were used, so that it did not change due to proper rescue works. The data of rainfall hydrometeorological stations of Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM) and Colombian Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) were used, with the purpose of evaluating the influence of rain like triggering element. The mass movement was classified as simple rotational landslide on NE direction, with a longitude around 60 m, which due to high saturation levels, it changed to an debris flow moving 140 m ahead on SE direction, and finally the mass turned NE. Triggering causes are associated to geomechanical properties of soil and antecedent rainfall of previous 15 days and very intense rainfall event during May 30, when 83.3 mm fell down for just 2 hours and 30 minutes along the central part of the valley.