Weak earthquakes can cause huge landslides years later

Rescue workers transport earthquake-affected people in China

(Xinhua / Chen Bohan / Ian)

Many parts of the Indian Himalayas lie in highly seismic zones that are prone to serious tremors. The Indian plate touches the Eurasian plate at a rate of 5 centimeters per year. This drift, though slow and painful, imbues the region with frequent earthquakes that end up causing widespread destruction to life and infrastructure.

However, there may be another silent killer lurking within these cracks that we haven’t taken into account enough, a new study shows. Satellite observations revealed that even weak shaking can trigger powerful landslides when seismic activity occurs. Surprisingly, this can happen even several years after the initial shivers have rocked the area, dispelling the myth that the area is safe after enough time has passed.

The study focused particularly on earthquake-accelerated landslides, which can harbor accelerated motion from an earthquake in the region long after an earthquake. In earthquake-prone areas, the result is usually severe levels of massive human loss.

In fact, studies show that about 25% of catastrophic losses during earthquakes in mountainous terrains such as the Himalayas or the northeastern ranges can be attributed to subsequent landslides that occurred in the area. Add to the fact that these areas also receive significant amounts of precipitation for about half of the year, and this exacerbates the risk of landslides.

The current hope is that this new observation can help improve preparedness for such natural disasters. Every year, around 18,000 lives are lost to landslides globally, while around 50,000 people are affected. In India alone, landslides have caused nearly 3,500 deaths in the past decade. These are very high numbers, and mitigating preventive measures could work to reduce them significantly.

Professor Ottilie from Newcastle University’s School of Engineering explains: “This study presents a cost-effective and effective methodology based on satellite imagery to identify and assess the risks posed by ground movements turning into catastrophic landslides following an earthquake in the long term. The next steps will be for civil authorities adopt the methods.

The results of this study are published in Nature Communications and can be accessed here.

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