But the engineers and geologists ignored the early warning signs, leading to a disaster of cataclysmic proportions.
The Vajont Dam was constructed between 1956 and 1960.
At the time of its construction, it was the tallest dam of its kind in the world.
The Vajont dam and reservoir on September 1963, one month before the disaster.
During construction, it was realized that the slopes of Monte Toc were not as stable as previously thought.
But the designers of the dam concluded that a deep-seated landslide was extremely unlikely.
In February 1960, filling of the dam was initiated for the very first time.
During this period, movement of the banks never exceeded more than a centimeter a day.
The Vajont dam in 1963, a few months before the tragedy.
The summer of 1963 was extraordinarily wet.
Only 15 meters of concrete prevented the lake from spilling over.
During this time, displacement increased to as much as 3.5 cm a day.
On 9 October, 1963, the water of the reservoir was at 235 meters.
By then the slope was moving at an alarming 20 cm/day.
At 10:39 PM, the slope of Monte Toc gave away.
At that time, the reservoir contained 115 million cubic meters of water.
In less than 15 minutes, more than 2,000 people were killed.
General map of the Vajont disaster.
Five minutes later I heard what I thought was a thunderclap.
It was incredibly loud.
I couldn’t do anything.
I had no idea what was happening.
The town of Longarone, Italy, before the landslide.
The town of Longarone after it was wiped down by a giant wave.
Micaela Colletti, then 12 years old, was hurled more than 350 meters through the air.
She was pulled out the next day from under the debris.
Scars of the catastrophe still exist on the mountainside.
The village of Longarone was rebuilt and so was many others.
There was also a political and financial conflict of interests.
Longarone before and after the flood.
Photo: United Press International, 1967.
Death and destruction on the Vajont valley.
This photograph was taken by the Inspectorate of Firefighters.
Two women mourns the loss of their home and village.
Another view of the dam after the disaster.
The landslide seen from the reservoir side of the dam.
The Vajont Dam today.
Photo:Devis_Sole/Shutterstock.com
The back of the dam is now empty.
Photo:Silvia Maggi/Flickr
Aerial view of the Vajont dam.
