Massive 80-Foot-Tall Avalanche Cuts Off a Town in Eagle River, Alaska from the Outside World

A gigantic avalanche almost the size of a building has covered the only entrance and exit route of a town in Eagle River, Alaska, since last week. Dozens of families have been barricaded, preventing their access beyond the area.

Cut from the Outside World

Before midnight on March 24, a massive landslide of snow and ice occurred along Hillan Road, located on the outskirts of the town located 16 kilometers (10 miles) northeast of Anchorage. The affected community consists of around 100 homes.

The blockage on the road has prevented the entry of vehicles and emergency services into the town-which is surrounded by mountains.

Avalanche experts describe it as a "once-in-a-hundred-year event," according to Amy Demboski, the Anchorage Municipal Manager, who stated during a news conference on Sunday, March 27, as per Reuters.

Demboski added that some of the houses no longer have electricity since the town has been isolated from civilization. So far, there have been no reports of casualties during the snowslide event.

Local authorities instructed residents of the Anchorage suburb to evacuate to the mountain area since another large avalanche or 'huge slide' is imminent. This comes after Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson issued an evacuation order due to the security and safety threats posed by the current condition.

Current Situation

Mayor Bronson also declared an emergency disaster for the area. The potential danger from the remaining snowpack on the mountain can cause an additional avalanche.

Under this circumstance, measures to remove the colossal snow chunk can only be started until all residents have evacuated the area.

Mayor Bronson added that it may take at least two weeks for the snow removal to be completed as part of controlled slides and avalanche mitigation efforts, as per AccuWeather-which issued a forecast that weather in the area will remain in clear conditions until Friday, April 1.

The return of residents and their families to the town is yet to be announced by Alaskan officials. Although avalanches are common in Alaska, the magnitude of this ice fall is considered to be rare.

Are Avalanches Common in Alaska?

An avalanche is similar to a landslide. However, the former is described as the abrupt and quick downward flow of snow on a hill or mountain. They can be triggered by both natural and artificial factors. Even immense sound waves were previously thought to cause an avalanche.

For natural causes, avalanches can occur due to a variety of geological and climatical forms, including heavy snowfall, snowstorms, strong winds, warm temperature, vibration or movement, earthquakes, or steep slopes.

Human activities such as mining, explosive work, snow skiing, and snowmobiles, can also contribute to the occurrence of snowslides.

Avalanche Fatalities in Alaska

According to the Alaska Avalanche Information Center (AAIC), Alaska has a high rate of avalanche deaths per capita. The increased backcountry recreation activities have also raised the number of avalanche accidents in the state.

From 1998 to 2021, the AAIC recorded a total number of 95 fatalities in Alaska, including the Anchorage area, where the recent massive avalanche on March 24 took place.