Evaluation of Rockfall Occurrence in Padang–bukittinggi Road,west Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

A big earthquake occurred on September 20, 2009 in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia. This earthquake caused damage and loss of both property and lives. The earthquake also triggered the emergence of rock falls in several areas in Padang, especially in the road of Padang to Bukitinggi. After the earthquake in September, several big rockfalls occurred more than three times that cost lives. Based on field investigations, the incidence of rock falls was caused by field conditions which was prone to rockfall, such as steep slope and exposure of rocks to intensive structures that then triggered by earthquake and rainfall. Therefore, fast action is needed to be taken in order to minimize the impact of the rockfall disaster.
 
 Keywords: Rockfall, slope, rock structure, earthquake, rainfall