Daily Landslide Observatory Report: March 25, 2026
1. USA: WSDOT Begins Removal of “Bus-Sized” Boulders on I-5
Operations to clear the massive landslide south of Bellingham, Washington, have reached a pivotal phase. As of today, March 25, specialized crews have begun the delicate process of removing high-risk loose rocks from the steep 80-foot slope flanking Interstate 5.
- The Scale: The slide, which occurred on March 19, deposited an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 cubic yards of debris—including boulders the size of city buses—across the northbound lanes.
- Geotechnical Update: WSDOT geotechnical engineers identified several unstable “pickup-truck-sized” rocks still perched high on the scarp. Removal of these imminent hazards is required before full-scale highway clearing can safely proceed.
- Risk Reduction: A full repair timeline and potential reopening date are expected to be announced later today following the finalization of the formal geotechnical engineering report.
- More Info: WSDOT Official Project Page | Bellingham Now Traffic Update
2. Spain: Landslides and Rescues in Canary Islands Following Storm Therese
Severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and river overflows, continue to impact the Canary Islands today. The islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife have been the hardest hit by Storm Therese since March 18.
- The Impact: Multiple landslides have severed road connections and damaged property. On March 21, emergency teams carried out high-risk rescues in the Barranco Hondo ravine. In Agaete, the neighborhoods of Los Pérez and El Hornillo were evacuated as nearby dam levels rose sharply.
- Risk Management: Over 40 flights have been cancelled due to weather, and several mountain roads remain closed to prevent casualties from falling debris. Authorities have activated the highest level of the Island Emergency Plan (PEIN) to manage the hydrogeological instability.
- More Info: GDACS Global Disaster Alert | ECHO Daily Flash
3. Pakistan: PDMA Issues High-Level Alert for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Pakistan issued an urgent warning on March 24–25 regarding an imminent threat of flash floods and landslides across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
- The Trigger: A new “westerly wind” weather system is entering the region, bringing heavy rain and snowfall to mountainous districts including Chitral, Swat, Dir, and Kohistan through March 31.
- Risk Reduction Strategy: PDMA has placed local disaster task forces on full standby. Tourists and residents have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel to upper districts, where the combination of steep terrain and recent moisture has significantly lowered the landslide threshold.
- More Info: The Nation (Pakistan) – Flash Flood, Landslide Risk Looms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Graphics & Visual Assets
- Precipitation Map: You can use NASA Worldview to capture real-time rainfall clusters over the Pacific Northwest and the Canary Islands.
- Technical Diagram: For an “Engineer’s Corner” sidebar, a diagram of Pore-Water Pressure ($\mu$) versus Effective Stress ($\sigma’$) would effectively explain why the bedrock joint failure occurred in Washington after the atmospheric river.
- Open Access Photos: You can find public domain satellite imagery of these storm systems via NASA Worldview.