Global patterns of loss of life from landslides

TLDR

Global landslide fatalities are poorly quantified. The study uses a global dataset of nonseismic landslide deaths from 2004–2010 to enable accurate quantification of impacts and spatial patterns. The dataset records 2,620 fatal landslides and 32,322 deaths—an order of magnitude higher than previous estimates—with most losses in Asia’s Himalayan region, a summer peak, and a fat‑tailed power‑law distribution linked to national population density.

Abstract

Global loss of life from landslides is poorly quantifi ed. A global data set of fatalities from nonseismically triggered landslides that resulted in loss of life between A.D. 2004 and 2010 permits for the fi rst time proper quantifi cation of impacts and spatial distributions. In total, 2620 fatal landslides were recorded worldwide during the 7 yr period of the study, causing a total of 32,322 recorded fatalities. These total numbers of landslides and victims are an order of magnitude greater than other data sets have indicated, but analysis of the data suggests that it may still slightly underestimate the true human costs. The majority of human losses occur in Asia, especially along the Himalayan Arc and in China. This geographical concentration dominates the annual landslide cycle, which peaks in the Northern Hemisphere summer months. Finally, numbers of fatalities per event show a fat-tailed power law distribution, with the density of landslides being moderately correlated with the population density on a national basis.