The Huascaran avalanched was stimulated exactly 52 years ago, on May 31, 1970, when an earthquake destabilized a glacier atop a mountain in Yungay Province, Peru.
As specified in a Daily Star report, there were only 400 survivors from the most fatal avalanche on record, which is perceived to have killed as many as 30,000 individuals, and the majority of them were saved by a clown.
As the mass of ice and snow roared down the mountainside, it collected a massive mass of rocks and gravel, turning into an uncontrollable avalanche.
On its 100-mile trip to the Pacific coast, it smashed through the town of Yungay, the place where thousands had gathered for the Sunday market held every week.
ALSO READ: Strong 7.1 Earthquake Rocks Northeast Japan Including Fukushima
Yungay Viejo as seen from the cemetery hill. The light shaded area shows the location of the landslide (ice, mud, debris avalanche) in 1970, caused by an earthquake, in which a part of the western flank of Huascaran Norte broke. Yungay Nuevo is behind the shaded area in the center.
The Yungay Earthquake
A small portion remained of Yungay following the combined damage from the earthquake and avalanche. Only a few grim reminders of its existence like the ruined cathedral and cemetery can still be seen in the area.
The only other indication that the town ever existed, is Jesus Christ's statue, which his arms outstretched, standing tall on top of the rubble, which has remained today, as a memorial to the thousands killed in the disaster.
The Ancash earthquake, also known as the Great Peruvian earthquake, which is detailed in The Peruvian Times, struck at around 3:20 pm. The quake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, impacted an area of more than 32,000 square miles, an area bigger than Ireland.
As the avalanched, it generated more mass, and it turned into a fatal mudflow that traveled at 270 mph, emitting some tiny rocks and stones at speeds approximated in the area of 680 mph.
Killer Earthquake
The 25,000 inhabitants of Yungay stood a small chance. Many of them had hurried into the church to pray after the earthquake struck and they were rapidly buried inside it.
In a Peruvian Times report, Mateo Casaverde said they were on their way from Yungay to Caraz "when the earthquake struck."
When they stepped out of the car the quake was nearly over. Then they heard a deep, low rumble, something distinct from the noise an earthquake is making, although not too different. It specifically came from the Huascaran.
Then they saw, haw-way between the mountain and Yungay, a massive cloud of dust. Part of the Huascaran was coming toward us. It was approximately 3:24.
Devastating Landslide
Casaverde added where they were, the only place that offered them relative security, was the cemetery, constructed upon an artificial hill, like a pre-Incan tomb. We can approximately 100 meters before they get to the cemetery.
Once he reached the top, he said he turned to see Yungay. He could see a giant wave of grey mud clearly, approximately 60 meters high.
Moments after, the landslide hit the cemetery, around five meters below their feet, he explained. The sky went dark because of all the dust, mostly from all of the ruined homes.
Casaverde's group turned to look, and Yungay, in which its devastation was reported on the Devastating Disasters website, and its thousands of inhabitants, had totally disappeared. A local tourist guide, Henri Gomez, who also survived the disaster, added that among the small number of survivors were 300 children, who had been brought to the circus at the local stadium, set on higher ground, as well as on the outskirts of the town.
Related information about the Huascaran avalanched is shown on Turq's YouTube video below:
RELATED ARTICLE: Indonesia's Semeru Began Spewing Hot Clouds, Villagers Told To Be Vigilant for Signs of Danger
Check out more news and information on Earthquakes in Science Times.