Investigation of collapse accidents of snow patches in Japan : report on an accident at Mt. Arasawa on August 1,2004, and casualty analysis for the past 40 years

DOI Web Site Web Site 1 Citations 16 References
  • KAWASHIMA Katsuhisa
    Research Center for Natural Hazards and Disaster Recovery, Niigata University
  • KURIHARA Yasushi
    Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University
  • IZUMI Kaoru
    Research Center for Natural Hazards and Disaster Recovery, Niigata University

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 2004年8月に新潟県荒沢岳で発生した雪渓崩落災害の 実態と過去40年間の災害分析
  • 2004ネン 8ガツ ニ ニイガタケンアラサワダケ デ ハッセイ シタ セッケイ ホウラク サイガイ ノ ジッタイ ト カコ 40ネンカン ノ サイガイ ブンセキ

Search this article

Abstract

collapse accident of a snow patch occurred at Mt. Arasawa, Niigata Prefecture, on August 1,2004. This accident claimed the lives of 3 amateur photographers who were taking photographs within a large snow tunnel formed by the snow melting underneath the snow patch. Since such accidents have not been studied thus far, we carried out firsthand observations at the accident site on Mt. Arasawa on August 3,2004. In addition, data and information related to collapse accidents of snow patches in Japan were collected from national and local newspaper articles. We then carried out a statistical analysis of data for the past 40 years from 1995 to 2004 to reveal the characteristics of this type of accident. A survey of the snow patch on Mt. Arasawa indicated that the collapsed snow area was as large as 220m2 , and the mass of the collapsed snow was estimated to be 150-230 ton. Since the roof of the snow tunnel may have become a cantilever structure immediately before the accident, this type of large-scale collapse was presumed to be caused by tensile fracture at the fixed end of the roof because of its weight. From the casualty analysis, data for 45 accidents and 62 casualties of snow patch collapses were compiled for the past 40 years. It was clarified that there were many accidents and casualties in the Gunma Prefecture (Mt. Tanigawa) and Toyama Prefecture (Northern Japanese Alps). As compared to accidents over the last 40 years, the accident at Mt. Arasawa in 2004 is characterized by the largest number of fatalities.

Journal

Citations (1)*help

See more

References(16)*help

See more

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top