The Disaster that Sruck The Villages in North Ossetia, Russia

Executive Summary

On September 20th, 2002, a disaster struck unprepared villages in North Ossetia, Russia. Colossal debris flow resulting from the complete detachment of the Kolka (Evans et al, 2009; Kotlyakov et al, 2004). Glacier travelled at extreme velocities reaching a distance of about 20km from the glacial bed down the Genaldon valley to Kamadon (Kotlyakov et al, 2004). A mudflow travelled an additional 15km stopping a few kilometers short of Gisel (Haeberli et al, 2004). The slide claimed a total of 125 lives directly, while outburts of newly formed lakes dammed by debris sediment threatened local villages with floods and additional losses (Kotyakov et al, 2004). The catastrophic acceleration and complete ejection of the valley glacier from it’s bed is unique to this event and has not been documented elsewhere (Chernomorets, 2007). The mechanism of this hazard involves a complex interaction between climatic and unique geological conditions of the area. The 2002 disaster has spurred a large amount of research into glacial associated natural hazards, which have provided options of improved preventative measures that will reduce losses in future events.

Location: Geographical position of the Kolka Glacier

The Kolka Glacier is located in the Caucasus mountains of North Ossetia, Russia (Fig.1). The glacier is situated on the northern slope of the Kazbek massif, in the Genaldon River basin. The basin supports muliple glaciers, the largest is Maili glacier, which is adjent to the Kolka glacier. The coordinates of the Kolka Glacier are 42° 44′ 23″ N, 44° 28′ 24″ E (Google Earth).

Physical Morphology: Kolka Glacier and surrounding area

Kolka Glacier is classified as a cirque-valley glacier (Fig. 1), with it’s accumulation z...

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... debris flow in areas similar to the Kazbek massif (Stoffel et al, 2012). These events must be treated as complex systems in contrast to the straightforward mechanisms currently employed to explain a vast amount of natural hazard processes (Chernomorets et al, 2007). When using models to predict such events, variables associated with climate change are important and should not be excluded.

The use of satellites will aid with constant long-term monitoring of the glaciers in the area (Quincey et al, 2005). If the glaciers are consistently and thoroughly monitored, it will be possible to distribute a warning signal to local residents when conditions for natural hazards are highly likely.

Relocation of the settlements to higher ground as in historical times, will aid in lowering the costs inflicted by debris flow events to infrastructure and in terms of lost lives.