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Hazards & Disasters
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
The 26 August 2025 landslide on the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route in India
On 26 August 2025, a landslide triggered by extraordinary rainfall killed at least 34 people and injured another 20 individuals. On 26 August 2025, extremely intense late monsoon rainfall struck parts of Jammu and Kashmir in northern India, triggering extensive flooding and landslides. Unfortunately, a significant landslide occurred on the route to the Vaishno Devi […]
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
Fatal landslides in June 2025
In June 2025, I recorded 51 fatal landslides worldwide, resulting in 479 fatalities. The number of fatal landslides is significantly above the long term mean. Yesterday, I provided an update on fatal landslides that occurred in May 2025. This post is a follow-up, providing the data for June. As always, allow me to remind you […]
Posted inFeatures
When Disaster Science Strikes Close to Home
How have scientists across Los Angeles used their skills to help their communities recover from the 2025 fires?
Posted inFeatures
Burning Urban and Wild Land Alike
When more densely populated Altadena and Pacific Palisades burned along with surrounding wildlands, hazards for residents didn’t stop when the fires were contained.
Posted inFeatures
Scrambling to Study Smoke on the Water
Timely action shows the impact of urban fires on freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Long-Term Strain Record of Mount Etna Captures 84 Fountaining Eruptions
Scientists use over a decade of high-resolution data to demonstrate that strain signals provide a better match to eruptive style than seismic tremors.
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
Fatal landslides in May 2025
In May 2025, I recorded 66 fatal landslides worldwide, resulting in 313 fatalities. The number of fatal landslides is significantly above the long term mean. Somewhat later than planned, resulting from other workload challenges, this is my latest update on fatal landslides in 2025, covering the month of May. I hope to be able to […]
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
An update on the 21 July 2025 rock avalanche in the Matia’an valley, in Wanrong township in eastern Taiwan.
Following the passage Typhoon Podul, the lake created by this massive landslide has now grown considerably. Overtopping is expected in October, although could occur sooner if further heavy rainfall occurs. The landslide-dammed lake behind the the enormous 21 July 2025 rock avalanche in the Matia’an valley, in Wanrong township in eastern Taiwan continues to fill. […]
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
The 7 August 2025 landslides and debris flows in Yuzhong County, Gansu Province
At least 43 people were killed in devastating landslides and debris flows in northern China. Planet Labs images provide an insight into this disaster. It is extremely challenging to keep up with the landslides occurring around the world at the moment. There has been a lot of attention paid to the remarkable rock slope failure […]