Landslide Deaths Up to 10 Times Higher than Thought, Study Suggests

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A landslide buried this house in Sichuan, China.
A landslide buried this house in Sichuan, China. (Image credit: Professor Dave Petley, Durham University)

In the realm of deadly natural disasters, the landslide has been underappreciated, indicates a newly assembled database of landslide fatalities.

The database, called Durham Fatal Landslide Database, puts the death toll across the globe as much as 10 times higher than previously estimated.

"We need to recognize the extent of the problem and take steps to manage what is a major environmental risk to people across the world," said researcher David Petley of Durham University in England in a statement.  [Can You Outrun a Natural Disaster?]

The database is intended to help identify areas most at risk for landslides, potentially saving thousands of lives, Petley said.

The background map shows global topography; each dot represents a single landslide that has killed a person. (Image credit: Professor Dave Petley, Durham University)

The database contains only fatal landslides, and does not include deaths in landslides that were caused by earthquakes. Those deaths are attributed to earthquakes. (Landslides are also triggered by intense rainfall, volcanic activity, changes in groundwater, and changes in the slope of an area, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.)

The majority of deaths occur in Asia, especially along the Himalayan Arc and in China, the analysis found.

Areas with a combination of large changes in vertical elevation, intense rainfall and a high population density are most likely to have high numbers of fatal landslides, Petley said.

"There are things that we can do to manage and mitigate landslide risks such as controlling land use, proactive forest management, and guiding development away from vulnerable areas," he said.

The results were published online in the journal Geology on Aug. 1.

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Live Science Staff
Live Science Staff
For the science geek in everyone, Live Science offers a fascinating window into the natural and technological world, delivering comprehensive and compelling news and analysis on everything from dinosaur discoveries, archaeological finds and amazing animals to health, innovation and wearable technology. We aim to empower and inspire our readers with the tools needed to understand the world and appreciate its everyday awe.