Rockslide kills woman, devastates agricultural land [Archives:2006/937/Local News]

A mountain in Hufash district in Mahwit province northwest of Sana'a unleashed an avalanche of rocks resulting in the death of 20-year-old woman and devastating agricultural terraces, Saba News reported.

The rockslide occurred at 11 a.m. on a mountain near Sharaf village. The rock mass is estimated to have been originally 25 meters long and four meters wide. The avalanche came down, killing the woman who happened to be gathering hay at that time and destroying a considerable area of mountain terraces.

A geological team is due to visit the affected area.

Two other rockslides recently occurred in Yemen, the severest of which afflicted Al-Dhafeer village in Bani Matar district 42 km. west of Sana'a on Dec. 29, 2005, claiming nearly 100 lives and crushing approximately 16 houses. A second rockslide occurred Feb. 21 during road construction in Raimah province, killing four people.

Such incidents have triggered efforts to geologically identify rockslide-prone areas in Yemen. The task consists of examining populated mountainous areas and providing findings in order to take measures that will save lives and property.
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