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Ridge-top rockslides frequently cause huge property losses and casualties due to the difficulties involved in detecting their precursors by means of manual surveys. Their early identification and the surrounding area's evaluation in terms of potential danger are essential for preventing disasters. The recent large rockslide which occurred at Su Village, which is in possession of data related to pre-failure images, real-time video, and post-failure boreholes, is helpful for providing new insights into the processes associated with these events. Due to a strong sustained rainfall, a large volume of granite blocks rapidly descended from the upper part of the hillside, causing 27 deaths and destroying more than 20 houses. It is found that the early identification of the hazard associated with such rockfalls can be made by the analysis of remote sensing images and Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) analysis of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. The depth-integrated continuum method, including taking the entrainment effect into account, was adopted to analyze the dynamic processes and to identify the areas at risk. The computational results show that the evaluated runout distance and extent match well with the field investigation results. The parameter sensitivity surrounding cohesion, coefficients of lateral earth pressure, and volume amplification were analyzed. It is demonstrated that the cohesion plays a significant role in the dynamic processes and the deposited area. However, the effects from the earth pressure coefficient and volume bulking are comparatively weaker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a recent large rockslide, which occurred at Su village in Lishui, Zhejiang Province, China, on September 28, 2016. In the past decade, a vegetation-free deformed surface was clearly visible and frequent rockfalls were noticed. Due to strong sustained rainfall, approximately 0.4 million m3 of granite blocks rapidly descended from the upper part of the hillside. The mass rushed into the V-shaped valley resulting in the formation of a barrier dam and dammed lake. The catastrophic rockslide caused 27 deaths and more than 20 houses were destroyed. The evolutionary process before the rockslide is clearly captured by high-resolution remote sensing images and photos. Video of the rockslide and field investigations show entrainment of superficial material in the middle and lower parts of the slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]