THREDBO — 1997 · Major Tragedy
The Thredbo Landslide
At 23:40 on 30 July 1997 thousands of tonnes of earth and debris slid from the slope below the Alpine Way road at Thredbo ski village in New South Wales. The landslide tore the four-storey Carinya Lodge in two; the detached section slid downhill into Bimbadeen Lodge, destroying both buildings. Eighteen people were killed. In one of the largest rescue operations in Australian history, carried out in sub-zero temperatures, ski instructor Stuart Diver was pulled out alive after 65 hours trapped between two concrete slabs; he was the only survivor. The coroner's report released in 2000 found that the slide was caused by water from heavy rain, melting snow and a leaking water main, and that earlier landslides should have prompted action by the authorities. The state government paid out millions of dollars in compensation in later years.
- Date
- 1997
- Place
- New South Wales, Australia, Thredbo, AU
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- -36.5048, 148.3045 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 30 July 1997A landslide destroyed the Carinya and Bimbadeen lodges.
- 2 August 1997Stuart Diver was pulled alive from the rubble after 65 hours.
- August 1997Recovery ended; 18 deaths were confirmed.
- 29 June 2000The coroner's report blamed a leaking water main together with rain and snowmelt.
Sources
- The Sydney Morning Herald — Heroes of Thredbo smh.com.au ↗
- The Sydney Morning Herald — Thredbo disaster: at last, the facts smh.com.au ↗
- Wikipedia — 1997 Thredbo landslide en.wikipedia.org ↗
- The Sydney Morning Herald
- Wikipedia
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.