UPDATE: Major landslide near Pointe Michel

Eart moving equipment clearing landslide at Pointe. Michel
Earth moving equipment clearing landslide at Pointe. Michel

Heavy earth-moving equipment was quickly brought in to clear a major landslide which blocked the main road leading from Soufriere to Pointe Michel on Tuesday morning.

Dominica News Online understands that vehicular traffic on that section of the road resumed soon after the clearing began.

The slide occurred in an area located about a minute to the south of the village itself or about two minutes north of Melvina’s Bar.

No one was injured.

The slide occurred sometime before 6:00 am, a bus driver told DNO.

“I pass that area around ten minutes before six and it was clear,” he said. “I went up the road and passed another bus driver. Just a few minutes later I saw him coming back up the road, so I stopped him and asked what is going on. He told me landslide on the road.”

The bus driver is convinced that if he was a few minutes behind time, he could have been caught.

On Tuesday morning traffic from Soufriere had begun accumulating at the landslide site. Some commuters crossed over to take buses on the other side to travel to Roseau.

A DNO news team on scene reported that the area appeared to be unstable because some rocks were still tumbling down the side of the cliff, causing onlookers to run away in fear.

Below are some photos of the landslide before and after clearing began.

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60 Comments

  1. true Dominican
    August 28, 2013

    Borrow another 27 million dollars from the Chinese.
    Dominicans wouldn’t mind paying back that loan.

  2. john
    August 27, 2013

    They need to dynamite the whole cliff and bring it down then fix the road so that they do not have to worry about it coming down when it is not expected those buses are lucky.

  3. DDang
    August 27, 2013

    I just walked that area last week after visiting and saw an area up there where the trees were being cleared and i noted that was a bad idea. However , the area this happen this is almost unavoidable. They need to start cutting into the cliff like they did at solomon and do some stabilization.

  4. Hmmm
    August 27, 2013

    I know the country cannot afford it on its own, but I think it is time to consider building bridges over the sea because this is really serious business. I think it is just God’s mercy why no one was caught under this and the other one that happened earlier this year.

    • Programmer
      August 27, 2013

      And when high seas and hurricanes remove them altogether,what will you people say? That government should know it cannot construct bridges over the sea?

    • cohenval
      August 27, 2013

      Be practical

  5. Toomatoe Tomato
    August 27, 2013

    Praise God, Praise God, we will continue to Praise you. Continue to keep our Land and People safe, I pray, special prayer for the safety of the people who are working on the road to clear it for us to use.

  6. freddie
    August 27, 2013

    Thank God that no one get hate at those time, I remember when I was a little girl it happen and my mother had to go to Soufriere to work we had a small boat that too us from one point to an other.

  7. August 27, 2013

    under solomon is always dangerous ,it is not the first time this happens …my mother is almost 100 years old ,she is from pointe mitchel and says that this is no surprise to her….
    no body can prevent such a disaster not even the politicians that some idiots want to blame….say praise God every one is safe…

    • me
      August 27, 2013

      thats not under solomon u doh even know dominica u talking that is just after pointe michelle and solomon is before pointe michelle

    • Justice
      August 27, 2013

      G.B this is not under solomon

  8. SweetD
    August 27, 2013

    Get more engineers to devise a plan of action!

  9. August 27, 2013

    lets give thanks and praises that no one got hurt because the other driver had just pass that road one day this to will pass no more rock slide

  10. ZULU
    August 27, 2013

    Like i have said here before landslides continue to be the most dangerous natural disaster in dominica. Time we have a mitigation plan asses all the high risk areas especially roadways and deal with them before life is lost. Disaster management needs to be more proactive than reactive. Now everyone says that hanging so long.

  11. Yusuf Tazim
    August 27, 2013

    Humpty Dumpty Fall again

  12. Sylvester Cadette
    August 27, 2013

    Good job in keeping the Dominican public informed.

    A little insight though to reporting is that it must not just inform but also educate. A number of our students study geography: THIS IS NOT A LANDSLIDE BUT A ROCK FALL. A rock fall occurs off a shear cliff. If an inclined slope, its called a rock slide. if it breaks of and travels a short distance on an inclined plane it’s called a rock slip. Where mass of soil is involved and not just rock, then its a landslide or landslip as the case may be.

    • Geo Degree holder
      August 27, 2013

      gfy sylvester cadette, you are a troublesome man. from my geographical dictionary : LANDSLIDE :the downward falling or sliding of a mass of soil, detritus, or rock on or from a steep slope. Its not a big deal, DNO does a great job and you trying to lambass them only looks bad on you.

      • Sylvester Cadette
        August 27, 2013

        part of your comment is unfounded because I did not Lambass DNO. In fact I first complimented them. That does not make me troublesome. :-D I noticed you signed “Geo Degree holder”. I am truely pleased and congratulate you though for engaging me in discussion because I could learn from you and you from me(No sarcasm).

        However, there is indeed such a clear-cut distinction in these terms even at layman’s level. And that’s what I wanted to highlight to DNO. So in future even the general public could make the distinction

        However, if we take it to the Degree level and discuss geomorphology, the formation of landforms, pluvial and fluvial processes and the Davisian or Penck’s model of slope formation you will see that I know what I’m talking about.

        Landforms was what I was pursuing before I decided that telecoms was a better option for me.

        Anytime I comment on DNO it’s only to share and encourage NOT Lambass.

        HANDSHAKE – FRIENDS?

      • Sylvester Cadette
        August 27, 2013

        Spelling ERROR: replace the word lambass with lambast

      • John Paul
        August 27, 2013

        I really like the way Mr. Cadette responded in a cool unperturbed fashion,just hammering home the information on what ever level the commentators want it.
        Moral of the story “This is the internet generation You have something to share do it .someone makes a negative comment well demonstrate how much You really know and put them to rest lol”
        We all learn how to deal with Hecklers!

      • Grammar
        August 27, 2013

        It’s lambast

  13. blessed
    August 27, 2013

    wow……………..

  14. Themanhimself
    August 27, 2013

    I see that the equipment and workers from the Solomon quarry are helping to clear the way. Thank you!

    • Me!
      August 27, 2013

      Yes this is the Solomon Quarry CSS personnel. Hats off to them. I wonder what the Loubiere Guy would have to say about that. Always negative and complaining. Carib Sand & Stones all the way! Way to go. Hope the people notice!

  15. Zicack Girl
    August 27, 2013

    Oh my! Thank God no one or vehicle was injured or destroyed. I usually get scared passing those big overhanging bolders. Just a few weeks ago I was on that road.

  16. kylie
    August 27, 2013

    It not raining cats and dogs anymore…now its raining stones. pa pa met. Thank you God for protecting souls. You ensured that no one was a victim of this.

  17. C Winston
    August 27, 2013

    I am looking at the pics and people are standing right under the area, a young lady is trying to cross to go to work. OMG what if it continues. People be careful, this is a dangerous area and the public works should do some counter ridging to stabilize that cliff…look like more rocks are going to crack out. Please be careful, one injury is too many. Personal safety first.

    • Kicks
      August 27, 2013

      Well if she had reported absent this morning, would you have paid her for the lost day??? just asking.

  18. Anonymous
    August 27, 2013

    god is so god

  19. Nacinimod
    August 27, 2013

    Thank God no one was injured. And this a wake-up call to road building and rehabilitation in Dominica. It is about time we begin looking for alternatives to the existing road footprints such bridges and flyovers. Expensive in the short run but important for long-term economic development.

    On the other hand, Nature Island is not well suited for motorable roads. Perhaps the island should be left in pristine condition and all movements to remote areas should be by sea or by foot.

    • to the bone
      August 27, 2013

      where u going to put the fly over?

    • lolz
      August 27, 2013

      The physical characteristics of the country is both a blessing and a curse. Nature has its way of supporting our economy via eco-tourism however, to deny physical infrastructure to the citizens who depend on and require it the most is economically and socially unacceptable.

  20. Hmmm
    August 27, 2013

    Thank god no one got hurt. This was a disaster waiting to occur. There are many more huge overhanging rocks around the island, some over very busy roads. The public works dept. should look at these areas before we have a major disaster on our hands.

  21. 2 CuTe
    August 27, 2013

    Major ? Boy thats some serious shhhhhhhhh.Happy no one got hurt

  22. Ian
    August 27, 2013

    That’s a really huge slide. It’s unfortunate that our roads must be build near the edge and underneath of cliffs. Glad that no one got hurt… :wink:

    • Anonymous
      August 27, 2013

      Where else can they build the roads. Our topography foreces the government to cut the roads in their current locations. They could make them safer by cutting the cliffs at a shallower angle, but that would be very expensive. You have to work with what you have.

      • Solution?
        August 27, 2013

        Build bridges such as the San Francisco Bridge. I know it costs a lot of money but I can think of another solution.

    • John Paul
      August 28, 2013

      This material can be exported .My Suggestion would be to mine the material along the road and leave it terraced .A Deal could be struck with the Mining company and at the end the threat would be taken care of at a minimal cost to the Government.

  23. sunshine
    August 27, 2013

    Praise God above from whom all blessings flow. I’m so happy to know that there was no casualty and my Dominican peeps please be careful and avoid the area for now. Peace!!!

  24. omg
    August 27, 2013

    omg oh Thank God no casualties, no deaths the Lord is is watching of us. let us thank him for protection he is a merciful God. inspite of it all he still blesses.

  25. Morihei Ueshiba
    August 27, 2013

    Blackmore stop talking about what u doing and talk about it when it is completed cause everytime u talk some road disaster happening. :-P

    • ???????????
      August 27, 2013

      Why not being thankful and objective! You that Morihei Ueshiba need to change your name… Always saying something out of context and so political (everything is political and showing hatred). Be thankful that no one was hurt! Just saying!

  26. Roz
    August 27, 2013

    That cliff was overhanging for a while now. Happy no one is hurt

  27. seepoom
    August 27, 2013

    GOD IS SO GOOOOD…

  28. Vanya
    August 27, 2013

    Another wake up call for Dominicans to take heed and take back their island spiritually…

    Good must always prevail over evil which sadly looms large in Dominica, thus creating the massive chaos.

    • Slim2on1
      August 27, 2013

      What on earth are you talking about? Just be happy everyone is safe.

  29. True Natural DA Girl
    August 27, 2013

    Guide and protect Dominicans Lord!!

  30. HomeAlone
    August 27, 2013

    Blessings to Yahweh that all is safe. I am recommending that the relevant authorities perform an assessment of the roads on the island and seek funding to mitigate the possibilities of landslides. ( using wire systems like they do in the USA, forming a mesh-like web, so that in the event rocks become loose it is caught I’m the web!).

  31. Joan E
    August 27, 2013

    Take care All

  32. hmmmm
    August 27, 2013

    Thank god no one was hurt

  33. Point is...
    August 27, 2013

    My God!!! Thank god no one was hurt!! but on the bright persons down this side Is allowed to be late for work this morning sigh. I should be from Soufriere lol!

  34. alana
    August 27, 2013

    This is what the government should be focusing on. Instead of that road from penville to vielle case.

    • SMH
      August 27, 2013

      You serious man Alana? Have u been to that area lately?

    • JAGOTS
      August 27, 2013

      Funny your name is Alana. But it is obvious you have no knowledge of the road, otherwise you would not comment such rubbish!

  35. OVERSEAS
    August 27, 2013

    Just happy that no one was hurt.

  36. yardie
    August 27, 2013

    well let’s give the most high thanks and praise for spearing lives and injuries

  37. trollers inc
    August 27, 2013

    thats a rockslide….

  38. Runawayslave
    August 27, 2013

    That caller from soufriere,”the english man”been crying about that whole area continually,guess blackmore, will have to do something now,even though there is Nothing In It For HIM.

  39. supporter
    August 27, 2013

    jobs for the boys not public works corporation

    • Twisted
      August 27, 2013

      Could not accept this for the First comment. Had to give it a thumbs down

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