Background
The coastal area of Vargas has long been subject to mudslides and flooding: geologically similar catastrophes occurred with regularity. The most recent major flood was in 1951, however that event did not cause as much damage. The unusually strong storm in December 1999 dumped 911 millimetres (35.9 in) of rain over just a few days, triggering soil instability and flow of debris. The state had experienced high population growth and development since the previous major disaster in 1951, thus increasing the toll of casualties.
Read more about this topic: Vargas Tragedy
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