Abstract
Nearby Chiz de Murcia, Turrialba, Costa Rica, a landslide has developed threatening several houses, a settlement located near the joint of Chiz and Reventazón rivers, a railroad, power lines and water pipes serving the population. It involves very weathered materials of the Uscari Formation (interbeddes clay and sandstone), has a semielliptical section and includes an estimated volumen of 70 000 cubic meters.
Around the main landslide other unstability phenomenas have been identified, delineating an ample area of high susceptibility to landslide generation. If the landslide suddenly generates an important volume of debris, it could eventually dam the course of Chiz river, creating the possibility of triggering mud and rocks flows.
The present study gives a geological view of the main landslide and its sourrounding area, and has been added a preliminary reconnaissance of the hazard.