Objectives On August 3, 2024, a catastrophic flash flood and debris flow devastated Ridi Village in Guzan Town, Kangding City, Sichuan Province. This disaster led to the collapse of a bridge on the Yakang Expressway between the Ridi No. 1 and No. 2 tunnels and destroyed several homes in the village, resulting in 23 people missing and 4 confirmed fatalities.
Methods To gather critical information and support emergency rescue operations, an in-depth analysis of the Ridi Gully debris flow was conducted using drone aerial photography and on-site investigations. The study examined the formation processes and underlying causes of the debris flow, with key dynamic parameters being calculated. These data were then used to simulate the dynamic evolution of debris flow using FLO-2D software, and the verification accuracy (Ω) of simulation results reached 1.65.
Results The findings suggested that the debris flow was primarily triggered by internal factors, including the steep terrain of the watershed, the presence of weathered and fractured granite, and the abundance of loose material within the gully. External factors such as recent temperature increases, which accelerated snow and ice melt, along with sustained rainfall, created the conditions necessary for the debris flow to occur. The flow transported approximately 58104 m3 of solid material, with the largest boulders measuring up to 6 m in diameter, while most ranged between 20 cm and 1 m. The flow velocity exceeded 8 m/s, and the impact force of individual boulders was over 500 kilonewtons, with the total impact force in the flow path surpassing 100 tons, resulting in significant destructive power.
Conclusions Critical insights into the formation and mechanics of the Ridi Gully debris flow offer valuable gui⁃dance for emergency response and disaster mitigation in regions with similar geological hazards in the mountainous areas of southwestern China.
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