Landslide-prone areas expanding in Azerbaijan

/By AzerNews/

By Nigar Orujova

The number of areas in Azerbaijan which are prone to landslides has increased by four times in the past 24 years, said Nariman Pashayev, Head of the Department of Economic and Political Geography of the Geography Institute of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

In 1990, landslides were recorded in 103 settlements in Azerbaijan and now the figure has reached 400, he added.

“20 years ago, several landslides occurred in an area of 4,000 square kilometers and now the figure has increased by one and a half, which is 6,000 square kilometers,” he said.

The scientist maintained that people are behind 80 percent of the landslides by their agricultural activity which increases the risk of landslides.

Pashayev noted that landslides in Azerbaijan are frequently occurring in Shamakhi-Ismayilli, Guba-Khachmaz regions and Absheron peninsula.

In Baku, landslides occur in Bail, Patamdart, Masazir, Ahmadli, Buzovna settlements, on the road to Novkhani, and recently intensified in the Garachukhur settlement.

Currently, Agsu Pass can also pose a threat in terms of landslides, Pashayev said. "Passage of trucks on this road negatively effects this process."

In November, prolonged rains have triggered several landslides in the southern region of the country. However, landslide zones have became more active in Azerbaijan since October, because of a drought in the summer months, and emergence of new cracks in the earth's surface and heavy rainfall.

The prolonged drought was observed in Azerbaijan this summer, which caused mudflows in the mountainous areas. The drought created a ground for further mudslides this year.

Landslides are usually reported in spring and autumn in Azerbaijan.