Landslide Deaths Up to 10 Times Higher than Thought, Study Suggests
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.
The researchers, in their analysis, found that 32,300
people died in 2,620 landslides between 2004 and 2010. Previous estimates
ranged from 3,000 to 7,000 fatalities.
"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.
The database is intended to help identify areas most at
risk for landslides, potentially saving thousands of lives, Petley said.
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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