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Landslides continue to worsen, keep people from condemned homes

PITTSBURGH — Two landslides in the city of Pittsburgh are still unsafe and affected homes remain condemned.

The situation in Garfield is extremely dangerous because rocks continue to come down the hill.

Landslides have also been reported in Spring Hill and Mount Washington.

In Garfield, people packed up their belongings as their homes have been condemned because of the shifting hillside.

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At least 10 local families have been impacted by landslides in the city this week.

"In an urban area, it's really hard to stop the erosion," said Dr. Philip Reeder, the dean of the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences at Duquesne University. "I'm sure the city is always trying different ways to maintain the integrity of the landscape in the city as mush as they can."

He said urbanization -- the development and growth we've seen in the city of Pittsburgh -- is the driving force behind the landslides.

Heavy rainfall, like we've had the last two weeks, triggers the landslides we've seen in the city and surrounding region, but many can't remember so many in so little time.

RELATED STORY: Homes condemned, evacuated because of landslide

Reeder said retaining walls can be built to help prevent or hold a moving hillside, but it's very difficult to prevent or stop these slides.

"In an urban area, simply because of the density of the population, you can't use a lot of means that you could use in a rural area to try and keep the landscape in place," he said.

With more rain to come, more families could be affected.