Disasters occurred in Kansai region due to the heavy rain event of July 2018

Masahiro KAIBORI, Yuji HASEGAWA, Yuichi YAMASHITA, Hiroshi SAKIDA, Shinji NAKAI, Shiho KUWADA, Shinya HIRAMATSU, Takashi JITOUSONO, Michiya IRASAWA, Osamu SHIMIZU, Fumitoshi IMAIZUMI, Kana NAKATANI, Yoshiaki KASHIWABARA, Nobuaki KATO, Eiji TORITA, Yasuyuki HIRAKAWA, Shiki YOSHINAGA, Kenji TANAKA and Setsuo HAYASHI

Abstract

In July 2018, heavy rain due to Typhoon Prapiroon affected western Japan and caused numerous sediment disasters such as landslides and debris flows in Hiroshima Prefecture. In a southern part of Hiroshima, approx. 8,500 slope failures occurred, and total number of sediment disasters were reported as approx. 1,250. Therefore, members of Japan Society of Erosion Control Engineering and Chuushikoku branch conducted field surveys in Hiroshima City, Aki Gun, Kure City, and Higashi‐hirosima City. In Kawasumi area, Aki Gun, large rock which seemed to be core stone and diameter approx. 10m moved down from the torrent, and at downstream side 6m diameter rock seemed to hit the house with destructive power. In Aki‐Gun, Saka‐Cho, Koyaura area, one old stone masonry sabo dam was destroyed. We estimated the flow discharge from the investigation at the upstream of dam and considered the flow process from the flow traces around the dam. The results showed that the dam destroying process was as following. Firstly, the large rocks accumulated at the frontal part of debris flow collided and destroyed the right bank side wing, and then stone masonry product peeled off continuously. Furthermore, debris flows occurred from several streams in Koyaura and 1‐1.5m sediment deposition occurred at downstream residential area. In Higashihiroshima City Kurose‐cho, many collapses and debris flows occurred around Hiroshima International University and there were no casualties fortunately. In Kurose‐cho, most of the collapses seemed to occur from the top and ridge of the mountains with gentle slope around 15degrees.

Key words

sediment disaster, heavy rainfall, field investigation, weathered granite