NATURAL disasters are known to cause great damage and even loss of life, depending on the severity.
A rockslide in Brazil took the lives of at least seven people in January of 2022.
2
What happened in the Brazil rock collapse?
On Saturday, January 8, 2022, a rockslide struck at least three tourist crafts in Lake Furnas, near Capitólio, southeast Brazil around 11:00 local time (14:00 GMT).
A video of the catastrophic event has since gone viral on social media websites, showing the exact moment the cliff breaks off and falls into the water.
At least 32 were injured with nine taken to hospital with severe injuries, officials said.
Lieutenant Pedro Aihara, a spokesman for the MG Fire Department, confirmed the deaths of multiple unidentified victims, with divers searching for more.
According to Globo, at least seven have been reported dead since the original report.
The Brazilian Navy has reportedly launched an investigation into the collapse.
Most read in World News
What has been said about the Brazil rock collapse?
Minas Gerais state Governor Romeu Zema tweeted: “Today we are suffering the pain of a tragedy in our state, due to heavy rains, which caused the loosening of a wall of stones in Lake Furnas, in Capitólio.
“The Government of Minas is present from the beginning through the Civil Defense and Fire Department. Rescue work is still ongoing.
“I stand in solidarity with families at this difficult time. We will continue to act to provide the necessary support,” the tweet continued.
Lake Furnas is reportedly a tourist-heavy destination.
“This rock was already very eroded, totally fragmented, it would collapse at some point,” said risk management specialist Gustavo Cunha Melo.
2
What is a rockslide?
A rockslide is an avalanche of rock.
The specific type of landslide is caused by rock failure, when part of the bedding plane passes through compacted rock.
Material then collapses in massive blocks.
While a rockslide often occurs from a mountain or a cliff, another type of landfall is known as a slump – a type of mass wasting that results in the sliding of coherent rock material along a curved surface.
According to the United States Geographical Survey, between 25 and 50 people are estimated to be killed by rockslides in the US alone.
The worldwide death toll per year falls within the thousands, with most fatalities occurring from rock falls and debri flows.
