What is a landslide dam?

Landslide dams include any blockage of a watercourse (stream, river, etc.) caused by the movement of material downslope. Often, but not always, the landslides are triggered by large earthquakes, such as occurred during the Kaikoura 2016 earthquake.

Many dams are slowly eroded by seepage through the dam or cut down after overtopping by the lake formed behind it. However, the dam can breach rapidly, and the associated discharge can pose risk to infrastructure and people, flooding and damage to the area downstream. Despite the potentially devastating consequences, landslide dams and breaches are poorly researched and understood. For more information go here