Val di Stava Dam collapse 3573662 217440883 2008-06-06T01:12:05Z MickMacNee 5704291 /* See also */ +*[[Seconds_From_Disaster#Episodes|National Geographic ''Seconds From Disaster'' episodes]] [[Image:Stava.jpg|thumb|The destruction in the valley.]] The '''Val di Stava Dam collapse''' occurred on [[July 19]], [[1985]] when a [[tailings]] [[dam]] above the village of Stava, near [[Tesero]], northern [[Italy]], failed. It resulted in one of Italy's worst disasters, killing 268 people, destroying 62 buildings and demolishing 8 bridges. The upper dam broke first, leading to the collapse of the lower dam. Around 200,000 [[cubic metre]]s of mud, sand and water were released into the Rio di Stava valley and toward the village of Stava at a speed of 90 [[Kilometre per hour|km/h]]. Having crashed through the village, the torrent continued until it reached the [[Avisio River]] a further 4.2 [[Kilometre|km]] away, destroying everything in its path. == Cause == An investigation into the disaster found that the dams were poorly maintained and the margin of safe operation was very small. A pipe in the upper dam used to drain water had begun to sag under the weight of [[sediment]], making the dam's drainage less effective. Meanwhile, water continued to be pumped into the reservoir behind the dam, which, coupled with the less efficient drainage, meant the pressure on the [[Dike (construction)|bank]] of the upper dam began to increase. Following the [[path of least resistance]], water began penetrating the bank, causing the soil within to [[Soil liquefaction|liquefy]] and weaken the bank until it failed. The water and [[tailings]] from the upper dam then flowed into the lower dam, which, under the immense pressure produced, failed thirty seconds later. == See also == * [[List of natural disasters by death toll#Floods and Landslides|List of natural disasters by death toll: Floods and landslides]] * [[List of wars and disasters by death toll#Flood disasters|List of wars and disasters by death toll: Flood disasters]] * [[Seconds_From_Disaster#Episodes|National Geographic ''Seconds From Disaster'' episodes]] == External links == * [http://www.tailings.info/stava.htm Stava tailings dam failure] {{coor title dms|46|19|14.09|N|11|30|2.41|E|}} [[Category:Dams in Italy]] [[Category:Disasters in Italy]] [[Category:Dam disasters]] [[Category:1985 disasters]] [[Category:1985 in Italy]] [[de:Tesero-Dammbruch]] [[it:Catastrofe della Val di Stava]] {{disaster-stub}} {{Italy-hist-stub}}