Home Research Emergency management Natural Hazards of Canada Landslides and avalanches Significant landslides and avalanches of the 19th and 20th centuries

Significant landslides and avalanches of the 19th and 20th centuries

All damage figures are in year 2000 dollars

1 1999 Fatalities: 9; injured: 25 map
Kangiqsualujjuaq, QC / January / Tonnes of snow cascaded down a cliff and knocked out a school gymnasium wall. Victims were inside participating in a New Year’s Eve party. Ten other buildings were evacuated.

2 1991 Fatalities: 9 map
Purcell Mountains, BC / March / Snow avalanche struck helicopter skiing party.

3 1990 Fatalities: 7 map
Joe Rich and Southern BC / June / Debris avalanche and mudslides caused by heavy rains closed 3 highways and reduced TransCanada highway traffic; eight homes destroyed in four communities by mudslides.

4 1981 Fatalities: 9 map
M-Creek Bridge, Highway 99, BC / October / Cars plunged into creek after debris flow had destroyed bridge during heavy rains.

5 1971 Fatalities: 7 map
North Route Cafe, BC / Snow avalanche destroyed roadside café.

6 1971 Fatalities: 31 map
St-Jean-Vianney, QC / May / Rapid retrogressive flowslide in Leda Clay swept away 40 homes.

7 1965 Fatalities: 7 map
Ocean Falls, BC / January / Slush avalanche/debris flow caused by melting snow struck community.

8 1965 Fatalities: 26; injurred: 22 map
Granduc Mine, BC / February / Snow avalanche struck sleeping quarters of mining camp.

9 1964 Fatalities: 5 map
Newfoundland / January / Ramsay Arm, BC / September / Debris flow caused by heavy rains struck logging camp.

10 1962 Fatalities: 9 map
Rivière Toulnustouc, QC / December / Workers killed by landslide in marine clay caused by blasting.

11 1957 Fatalities: 7 map
Prince Rupert, BC / November / Debris avalanche triggered by heavy rains buried 3 houses.

12 1955 Fatalities: 7 map
Mount Temple, Lake Louise, AB / July / Inexperienced climbers swept away by snow avalanche.

13 1921 Fatalities: 37 map
Britannia Beach, BC / October / Outburst flood caused by breach of landslide dam swept away more than 50 houses.

14 1915 Fatalities: 56; injurred: 22 map
Jane Camp, BC / March / Rock avalanche from above portal of mine swept into mining camp.

15 1910 Fatalities: 62 map
Rogers Pass, BC / March / Workers clearing snow from previous avalanche on CP tracks buried by second avalanche.

16 1909 Fatalities: 22; injurred: 15 map
New Westminster, BC / November / Slump of railway embankment; train derailed.

17 1908 Fatalities: 33 map
Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette, QC / April / Landslide in Leda Clay into Lièvre River caused a wave containing blocks of ice which destroyed homes.

18 1905 Fatalities: 15 map
Spences Bridge, BC / August / Landslide into Thompson River caused wave which swept victims away.

19 1903 Fatalities: 70; injurred: 23 map
Frank, AB / April / Rock avalanche buried the coal mining town of Frank.

20 1897 Fatalities: 7 map
Red Mountain, BC / Debris flow struck railway camp.

21 1895 Fatalities: 5 map
Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes, QC / Landslide in Leda Clay.

22 1891 Fatalities: 35 map
North Pacific Cannery, BC / Debris flow or flood caused by breach of landslide dam after heavy rains.

23 1889 Fatalities: 45 map
Québec, QC / Rockslide onto houses on Champlain Street.

24 1877 Fatalities: 5 map
Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan, QC / Landslide in Leda Clay.

25 1841 Fatalities: 32 map
Québec, QC / Rockslide onto houses on Champlain Street.

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