Heavy winter rainfall has triggered further movement at this infamous landslide site in California, causing damage to properties and infrastructure The Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex in Rancho Palos Verdes in California frequently makes news headlines as phases of movement cause property damage. California has suffered a wet winter, which has driven a new phase of […]
Hazards & Disasters
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
Fatal landslides in Nepal since 1968
Since 1968, there have been over 1,400 fatal landslides in Nepal, killing over 6,000 people. I’m currently writing a paper on the patterns of fatal landslides in Nepal since 1968. This is an update on the paper we wrote almost 20 years ago (Petley et al. 2007) that examined the changing patterns of landslides there. […]
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
Global fatal landslides in January and February 2026
The number of fatal landslides in 2026 to the end of February was considerably above both the long term mean and the year with the highest total, 2024. To bring everything back up to date, I am providing an update on fatal landslides for both January and February 2026. As usual, this data has been […]
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
The 8 March 2026 garbage landslide at the Bantar Gebang Integrated Waste Processing Site in Bekasi, Indonesia
A major failure triggered by heavy rainfall killed seven people. On 8 March 2026, a moderately-sized garbage landslide occurred at the the Bantar Gebang Integrated Waste Processing Site in Bekasi, on the margins of Jakarta in Indonesia. The landslide, which occurred at 14:30 local time, reportedly struck a series of trucks associated with the dump. […]
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
Global fatal landslides in 2025
In 2025, I recorded 663 global fatal landslides, costing 5,091 lives. I have fallen a little behind with providing updates on global fatal landslides – a consequence of the pressures associated with changing jobs. I hope that normal service can now be resumed – I have been collecting the data through this period. I am […]
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Tropopause Temperature Drives Tropical Cyclone Simulation Diversity
Tropopause temperature biases create major tropical cyclone differences in models; cooler air boosts storm potential intensity, raising global cyclone frequency and hurricanes in experiments.
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
Reports of another massive landslide at the Rubaya Coltran mining site in the DRC
There are disputed reports of another massive landslide at the infamous mining site, with over 200 deaths being described by eye-witnesses. There are reports this morning that another devastating landslide has occurred at the Rubaya coltran mining site in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is an area controlled by a rebel group, M23, […]
Posted inResearch & Developments
Senate Committee Approves Bill to Expand NOAA Capabilities
The markup meeting, to discuss the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2026 and the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, lasted less than 20 minutes.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Severe 2023 Drought: Sinking Carbon Sink in the Amazon
The Amazon forest has been a reliable carbon sink, soaking up some of humanity’s carbon emissions, but a severe drought in 2023 adds to growing concern that this ecosystem service is at risk.
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
A dramatic rockfall on the E134 road at Fjæra in Etne, Norway
An occupied vehicle was crushed, but the person in the car escaped unhurt. On 1 March 2026, a very dramatic rockfall occurred in Fjæra in Etne in Vestland county, Norway. The rockfall, which originated on a steep rock slope on the flanks of Åkrafjorden, did not kill anyone, but it crushed a pick-up truck (see below). […]