The List of Which Country Is Prone to Landslide

Some regions in different countries are prone to landslides. Besides the reasons such as steep slopes and mountainous terrain, heavy rainfall and earthquakes are other triggers that can cause this disaster. Which country is prone to landslide and how to deal with it?

Summary of Which Country is Prone to Landslide

Indonesia

The country is in the Ring of Fire, where most volcanic mountains were formed and are still active until now. Volcanic activity in Indonesia is very high every year. Eruption occurs and brings volcanic materials that contribute to landslides. It buries houses and kills many people in every case.

Sometimes, the earthquake in Indonesia can also cause landslides after the aftershock. Though it is not always the case, it increases the death toll. However, heavy rainfall in Indonesia also worsens this case due to deforestation. Most cases are caused by persistent rains in different regions.

Nepal

Nepal is in the category of which country is prone to landslide because the region is part of the Himalayas. The morphology of the country is steep in every slope. They are earthquake-prone when intense rainfall comes in the monsoon season. The deadliest one was in 2014.

The country also experiences multiple earthquakes. It is the main reason of landslide cases in Nepal. Once the landslide occurs, it blocks many things, such as roads and rivers. It is very hard to reach the affected communities, and this is why landslides in Nepal are always deadly disasters.

Philippines

There are many reasons of landslides in the Philippines. The first reason is intense rainfall that occurs regularly in the country. Sometimes, the rainfall comes with some typhoons. The wind is so powerful that it can trigger landslides in some areas.

Besides the heavy rainfall, the landslides come from active zones where earthquakes mostly occur at any time. The slopes in the country are unstable because of logging and mining, which are becoming one of the most important contributions to their GDP. The hazardous one was in 2006 in Leyte Island.

India

The Western region of India and the areas close to the Himalayas are prone to landslides. Most cases in India occur here because monsoon rains are intense. The rainfall weakens the soil and rock; meanwhile, the excessive water runs on the surface, which leads to landslides.

The population in India is also increasing fast, and this encourages more deforestation for housing. This urbanization is rapidly growing, and the slopes are becoming unstable. The worst case of landslide in India was in 1998.

China

Though the rainfall in China is seasonal, it is the top reason of landslides. Rapid urbanization in China, where they establish many infrastructure projects, contributes to the reason why China is one of which country is prone to landslide. The projects destabilize soil and slopes.

Some areas in China are earthquake-prone, which can trigger landslides in these areas. In 2008, when there was a big earthquake in Sichuan, the aftermath blocked roads and rivers. It was the deadliest because it took a very long time for the rescue team to save many lives.

Japan

The factors why landslides in Japan occur are typhoons and volcanic eruptions. Their early warning system would announce that particular communities who are potentially affected to stay away from the area because the landslide is triggered because of the previous events.

Multiple landslides happened in Hiroshima in 2014. It killed about 70 people because they were buried after heavy rainfall occurred in this area. The landslide post-earthquake occurred in Kobe because the earthquake destroyed the slopes.

Government Key Actions for Landslide-prone Countries

The authorities should be decisive in regulating land use. Some restrictions would help to save the high-risk zone. To prevent it better, laws should be involved in these areas. The landslide-prone zones should have trees and particular vegetation to cover the surface.

Another action to consider is establishing an early warning system. This is crucial to save people’s lives because they can follow the guidelines once the events trigger landslides. Evacuation beforehand is required since the landslide could bury everything fast.

Since landslides are usually the aftermath of other incidents such as heavy rainfall and earthquakes, the local authorities of which country is prone to landslide should forecast this by looking at data. Hence, it is also crucial to inform communities by using an SMS broadcaster device. Buy the device here.