Dramatic moment landslide sends two large homes crashing down a cliff into a flooded river after days of heavy rain in Tennessee
- Both were positioned precariously close to the cliff overlooking Tennessee River
- Sparks crackled and lit up the night sky as one of the homes tore from its wiring
- Pictures show razed homes scattered in hundreds of parts down the steep bank
This is the dramatic moment two riverside homes were uprooted and swept down the steep bank in a devastating landslide.
Both houses were positioned precariously close to the cliff-edge overlooking Tennessee River when the ground beneath them caved in on Saturday.
Sparks crackled and lit up the night sky as one of the homes tore free from its wiring and toppled over the edge of the precipice.
When dawn broke, daylight laid bare the extent of the destruction, with drone pictures showing the razed homes scattered in hundreds of parts down the steep bank.
Luckily, nobody was hurt in the landslide in Savannah, Hardin County, as homeowners managed to evacuate when the imminent risk became clear.
When dawn broke, daylight laid bare the extent of the destruction, with drone pictures showing the razed homes scattered in hundreds of parts down the steep bank in Tennessee
The cascade was caused by the dangerously high level of water in the river after rain had bucketed down on Tennessee for days.
The Hardin County fire department were called and, within an hour of the evacuation, the first house tipped over the bank.
Nighttime footage of the landslide shows anxious observers shining torches on the large house, waiting for the inevitable moment it is washed down towards the river.
Slowly, it begins to creak and the sound of snapping grows louder before the side of the house closest to the river dips downwards after the ground gave way,
This rips the other side of the property from its base and sends sparks shooting into the air.
The entire building then plummets down the house with a crash, before a silence which is only broken by a woman yelling ‘oh my God!’
Sparks crackled and lit up the night sky as one of the homes tore from its wiring and toppled over the edge of the precipice
Both houses were positioned precariously close to the cliff-edge overlooking Tennessee River when the ground beneath them caved in on Saturday.
Drone photos reveal the landslide laid waste to the homes on the spread of riverfront known as Chalk Bluff.
The houses have completely collapsed and the remaining debris this morning showered the bank.
The fire department shared the video on Facebook Saturday and posted: ‘Today at 5.15 pm firefighters were called to 4870 Glendale road on a reported land slide along the Tennessee river in the area known as chalk bluff.
‘Two houses were in danger of collapse , only one house was occupied and the homeowners were safely evacuated.’
‘About an hour later the vacant house collapsed down the steep bank. The highway department has closed that area of Glendale road. This is a short video of the collapse.’