scorecardA crazy landslide that ripped up a California road is puzzling geologists
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A crazy landslide that ripped up a California road is puzzling geologists

Vasquez Canyon Road is located outside of Los Angeles.

A crazy landslide that ripped up a California road is puzzling geologists

The geology of the area is fairly unstable, and landslides are common.

The geology of the area is fairly unstable, and landslides are common.

This landslide was a bit more intense than most. It started out small on Thursday, November 19.

This landslide was a bit more intense than most. It started out small on Thursday, November 19.

In just hours, the road began to bend.

In just hours, the road began to bend.

And then it quickly buckled.

And then it quickly buckled.

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LA County officials rushed to the scene.

LA County officials rushed to the scene.

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They closed the two-mile stretch of road.

They closed the two-mile stretch of road.

By Friday, much of the pavement had given way.

By Friday, much of the pavement had given way.

The dirt from the landslide simply washed away the road.

The dirt from the landslide simply washed away the road.

Geologists tried to figure out what caused the severe buckling.

Geologists tried to figure out what caused the severe buckling.

“What seems to be happening is that the hillside adjacent to the roadway is failing and slipping down the slope," Steven Frasher, public information officer at LA County Public Works, told COC Cougar News.

“What seems to be happening is that the hillside adjacent to the roadway is failing and slipping down the slope," Steven Frasher, public information officer at LA County Public Works, told COC Cougar News.

"And as the structure comes down the hill, it’s actually in-filling underneath the pavement and lifting it up," Frasher said. "But why it’s doing that we’re still investigating.”

"And as the structure comes down the hill, it’s actually in-filling underneath the pavement and lifting it up," Frasher said. "But why it’s doing that we’re still investigating.”

Source: COC Cougar News

Frasher told local newspaper The Signal that the road became "essentially a catastrophic failure."

Frasher told local newspaper The Signal that the road became "essentially a catastrophic failure."

The Earth split the street right down the middle.

The Earth split the street right down the middle.

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This drone footage shows just how expansive the problem is.

This drone footage shows just how expansive the problem is.

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The LA County Public Works Department said they've never seen anything like it.

The LA County Public Works Department said they

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Vasquez Canyon Road was pushed more than 15 feet into the air in some places.

Vasquez Canyon Road was pushed more than 15 feet into the air in some places.

For reference, this KTLA5 reporter Mark Mester is over 6 feet tall.

For reference, this KTLA5 reporter Mark Mester is over 6 feet tall.

But this Google Street View screenshot shows the road had cracks back in 2011.

But this Google Street View screenshot shows the road had cracks back in 2011.

This revelation caused some experts to conclude the buckling road was a long time coming.

This revelation caused some experts to conclude the buckling road was a long time coming.

Although this landslide looks very sudden," landslide expert Dave Petley wrote in a blog, "it has been developing over a prolonged period.

Although this landslide looks very sudden," landslide expert Dave Petley wrote in a blog, "it has been developing over a prolonged period.

The road remains closed until the problem is fixed.

The road remains closed until the problem is fixed.

Officials warned people not to drive on the road, since the ground is still shifting.

Officials warned people not to drive on the road, since the ground is still shifting.

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