| On July 30, 1997 a huge landslide rolled over the | | | | event and still experience nightmares, and other |
| Thredbo Ski village in Australia causing massive | | | | such medical or psychological conditions. |
| damage and virtually burying the resort; cars, | | | | The economic impact to the area was of course |
| buildings, people and all! The loose earth, rock, and | | | | very significant. Business to the resort obviously |
| foliage swept down the slope and crashed into | | | | came to a full stop. Millions of dollars had to be |
| the Bimbadeen Lodge, a multi-level building, used | | | | spent to repair and rebuild the facility and it took |
| to house guests. Eighteen people died as a direct | | | | quite a long time to complete the repairs and |
| result of the landslide, most were buried alive. | | | | reopen for business. Lost revenues from the |
| The landslide brought one thousand tones of | | | | closure and from the reduced level of tourism |
| earth, rock, trees and debris down the slope of | | | | were enormous. |
| the mountain cutting a four hundred meter wide | | | | Landslides are not often considered to be |
| swath. Rescue efforts where made even more | | | | significant issues in so far as natural disasters are |
| difficult due to the occurrence of secondary minor | | | | concerned. They usually occur in more isolated |
| landslides, and unstable soft earth. | | | | areas and their effects are only felt by relatively |
| The damage to the resort was devastating. | | | | small local populations. One must realize, however, |
| Sheared water, gas, and oil lines had to be capped | | | | that in the last one hundred and sixty five years |
| before rescue operations could even begin. It | | | | over one hundred and fifty landslides have caused |
| took 55 hours before any survivors could even | | | | an estimated two hundred million dollars in |
| be located. Many vehicles where destroyed by | | | | damages. They have damaged hundreds of |
| the flowing earth. The Carinya lodge was swept | | | | buildings, both homes and businesses, and |
| right off its foundations and hurled into the | | | | destroyed roads, pipelines, crops, and disrupted |
| Bimbadeen Lodge. Both multi-floor buildings where | | | | local utilities. These same landslides have killed at |
| completely crushed as a result of the landslide. | | | | least 73 people and injured many more. Obviously, |
| The social impact on the resort was substantial. | | | | such a landslide can cause economic loss and |
| Tourism to the resort dropped as a result of the | | | | hardship for an operating business. Proper planning |
| landslide. Most people where afraid to return to | | | | is essential to reduce the risks associated with |
| the area. Many people suffered trauma from the | | | | any type of natural disaster. |