Venezuela

While reading of the estimated 30,000 lives lost by the landslides in Venezuela (Dec. 26), I wondered: Have there ever been rainfall events this severe in that part of the world before? Why is this happening now?

A quick search on the Internet (start with “logging in Venezuela”) points to the real cause of this massive catastrophe. The widespread failure of the slopes there was a direct result of nonexistent or inadequate erosion prevention measures to accompany logging and mining activities. Until governments and logging and mining corporations around the world take proactive measures to minimize the soil loss and sedimentation caused by their activities, it’s safe to expect this same scenario repeating around the world in the next few years.

The landslides--and the loss of 30,000 lives--were absolutely avoidable.

DANIEL WALDMAN

Santa Barbara