Understanding and Mitigating the Threat of Landslides

Landslides cause significant loss of life and infrastructure damage globally, but prevention and prediction remain challenging.

Landslides are triggered by natural factors like rainfall, earthquakes, and volcanic activity, as well as human activities such as deforestation and construction.
Countries like Papua New Guinea, the United States, and Nepal experience frequent landslides, with devastating impacts on communities and infrastructure.
Effective prevention includes improving drainage, constructing retaining walls, and reforestation, though these measures are not foolproof.
Accurate prediction of landslides is difficult due to the complex interplay of geological materials and environmental conditions.
Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of landslides, particularly in mountainous regions.