Landsliding in seismic areas: the case of the Acquara-Vadoncello landslide (southern Italy)

On 29 December 1993, a slump-earthflow was activated in the outskirts of Senerchia (southern Italy) in a locality named “Vadoncello”. Mass movement has been active until the time of writing, at a variable rate. Maximum velocity was reached during 1995, when a seismic sequence of low magnitude (maximum 3.6) was recorded. The landslide evolution was studied considering both the characteristics of seismic activity and slope stability conditions. The results of the analyses showed that the role of seismic action in triggering mass movement is uncertain, although it cannot be excluded. Slope behaviour is more likely to have been controlled by morphological and hydrogeological factors and their modifications, which could also have been responsible for the vulnerability of the slope. In conclusion, the mass movement observed in 1995, triggered by the possible contribution of low magnitude shocks repeated at short intervals, determined new and more stable equilibrium conditions in the slope.