The Kolka–Karmadon rock-ice slide occurred on the northern slope of the Mount Kazbek massif in North Ossetia–Alania on the evening of 20 September 2002, following a nearly total collapse of the Kolka Glacier. It started on the north-northeast wall of Mount Jimara, above sea level, and seriously affected the valley of Genaldon and Karmadon. The resulting avalanche and mudflow killed more than 120 people, including a film crew of 27 people, among them Russian actor and director Sergei Bodrov Jr.(25 September 2002). Sergei Bodrov: Russia's lost actor. BBC. Retrieved 20 November 2016. While this type of avalanche is not uncommon, this particular event is considered extraordinary because of several aspects.
Background
The Kolka glacier is known for its surges. Previously documented surges occurred in 1902 and 1969, with the 1902 event killing at least 32 people.
Before the slide the glacier was unstable due to either seismic (underground tremors), volcanic or meteorological (significant amount of snowfall in the previous years) factors or a combination of these, resulting in a large amount of subglacial water being present.
Immediately before the event mountaineers observed significant rockfall activity onto the glacier.
Collapse
The slide was started by an initial rockfall onto the glacier. This caused the glacier to be practically ejected from its basin resulting in its complete destruction and leaving behind an empty cirque, a phenomenon not previously observed anywhere else.
The loosened thick chunk of the Kolka Glacier traveled down the Karmadon Gorge and Koban Valley at over . The outflow of mud and debris measured wide and thick. Even downstream the mass still surged up the narrow valley sides.
The main deposit had two distinct flows and finally settled at the Gates of Karmadon after covering a distance of . The village Nizhniy Karmadon, along with several rest houses beside the river were obliterated.
Aftermath
Two villages along the gorge were under surveillance as flood waters backed up along the choked rivers. On September 25, a first round of explosives intended to break up the avalanche flow was unsuccessful in reducing flood waters lapping through the village of Gornaya Saniba.
The glacier reappeared two years later and started growing again.
Notable victims
Sergei Bodrov Jr. Vladimir Kartashov
See also
List of avalanches Glacier collapse
Notes
References
External links