Taşarası village undergoes landslide and rockfall risk assessment

Authorities in Şırnak, Turkey, are conducting a detailed risk analysis for Taşarası village due to ongoing concerns regarding landslides and rockfalls. Following petitions from approximately 700 residents to the Governor's Office, AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency) initiated the ‘Mass Movements Improvement Project’ to assess the stability of the area.

Technical investigations involve drone surveys and the drilling of eight 20-meter-deep boreholes across the village's slopes. Initial drone assessments identified a 110-hectare area at risk of rockfalls on the northern slope and landslide risks on the southern slope. Soil samples from four of the boreholes are being analyzed in accredited laboratories, while the remaining four are being monitored for millimeter-scale ground movements.

Data regarding seismic fractures and surface waves are being collected to simulate potential rockfall distances and impact zones via computer modeling. The findings, expected to be submitted to AFAD in November after a five-month study, will determine whether the risks can be mitigated through engineering solutions—such as retaining walls, forepiles, or rock barriers—or if the village must be relocated to a new settlement.