Mass Wasting: The Naga Landslide

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By: Marie Ernestine Patindol
Image result for naga landslide
The Naga Landslide on 20 September 2018 which killed 78 people. RAPPLER. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/212976-naga-cebu-officials-warned-of-landslide-prone-areas-in-2008
Mass wasting, which is sometimes called mass movement or slope movement, is defined as the down slope movement of rock and regolith near the Earth's surface mainly due to the force of gravity. It is a type of erosion, and is capable of making big changes to the side of a mountain.

 Last year, 20th of September 2018, a horrifying tragedy just unfolded before our eyes. About 80 hectares of earth moved and buried more than a hundred of people in Naga City, Cebu. When I saw the news and the footage of the landslide, it made me think, what if the mountains were not bald and trees are abundant during that time, could the tragedy have been avoided? The baldness of the mountain really stood out and that could be one of the factors why the tragedy occurred.

 One of the articles that I have read stated that cracks and fissures are seen weeks before the landslides but the government ignored the signs of danger. There was a letter given to the mayor of Naga City from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office 7 (MGB-7) and it stated that the cracks and fissures in limestones within Apo Land and Quarry Corporation (ALQC) "do not pose an imminent danger to the neighboring community.". And look what happened now, people died and mother nature was destroyed.

 This massive landslide serves as an eye-opener that we should take actions on the recurring environmental issues. I am not an expert with issues that involves with our environment but I highly suggest that we should start to put our heart and minds to these concerns. We can start by planting trees or by trying to lessen our plastic usage. 



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