Abstract: Tensional cracks were observed at the top, toe of slopes as well as the retaining walls of a newly constructed highway embankment in Hubei Province after a prolonged heavy precipitation. The length of this embankment is approximately 160 meters with a slope one the left-hand side and retaining wall at the right-hand side. The maximum backfill height of the embankment is 8 meters. The maximum overburden soil thickness is 8 meters on the well-developed karstic rock pinnacles. The limestone with thin layers of shale bedrock is severely folded with bedding planes that is anticline to the direction of slope at right hand side. The day-lighted bedrock bedding plane has a small angle to the direction of the embankment slope at left hand side. The observed geohazards induced significant difficulties so that many change of design and construction occurred. Based on the geological conditions, soil and rock stratigraphy, hydrological conditions, embankment backfill characteristics and deformation monitoring results, it is concluded that the defects observed is a translational movement and the target embankment is at the instable condition. 

Key words: landslide, geological conditions, contribution factors, weak layer, translational movement