Mass Wasting

 Landslides are very common across the globe. In July of this year, 71 fatal landslides occurred worldwide, killing approximately 214 people. They are often, but not always, attached to other hazards such as flooding and earthquakes. They can occur simply because of the existence of gravity. They also do not need any transporting medium (eg water), they can simply be rocks sliding down a cliff. This hazard includes falling - rockfalls; sliding - slumps, soil slips, rock slides; and flowing - debris flows, earth flows, avalanches. These often occur in conjunction with one another; for example it could start as a slump and become an earth flow. 

Just a week ago, Nepal experienced heavy rainfall that led to flooding and landslides, ultimately killing at least 44 people and destroying entire villages. It also caused highway closures and flight cancellations. It occurred at a terrible time as it was during a festival so many people were traveling. 


In Nepal, because of the Himalayas, landslides are quite common. Between floods and landslides this year, the estimated cost to simply fix the roads is equivalent to 84.5 million US dollars. This year, according to authorities, 351 people died from landslides in 1,005 landslides across the country - the leading cause of death this year. 


http://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2016/03/24/the-yale-himalaya-initiative-1/
Historically, the largest landslide in Nepal’s history was recorded in medieval times. It is estimated to have had a volume of 23 cubic kilometers and was caused by a rockslide. 
The Department of Mines and Geology has a website with maps identifying areas where landslides could occur and helping with planning of land use and infrastructure. 






Comments

  1. Rocio GaleazziOctober 11, 2025 at 3:32 PM

    Hi Madison!
    I was shocked by the number of landslides that occurred around the world in July; there are too many! Unfortunately, these types of events often catch people off guard, and that's why tragedies occur, and as you mentioned, they can be caused only by gravity. This situation becomes worse if the country experiences heavy rains, as is the case in Nepal. Denmark is a peaceful country with almost no landslides; however, due to climate change, it has experienced an increase in rainfall, which causes a greater risk of landslides, especially in coastal areas. Great work this week!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ezekiel DopOctober 13, 2025 at 10:26 PM

    Thanks for sharing these important facts about landslides worldwide and in Nepal. It’s tragic how many lives and homes are affected, especially during times when people are traveling or celebrating. It’s great that Nepal is using mapping and planning tools to help reduce future risks and improve safety.

    ReplyDelete

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