Spatiotemporal patterns of non-seismic fatal landslides in China from 2010 to 2022

Abstract

Landslides represent a major global natural disaster, often leading to severe consequences, including substantial loss of life and property. However, research on the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of fatal landslide events across different climate regions and their association with precipitation remains limited. In this study, we compiled a database of non-seismic fatal landslides in China from 2010 to 2022 to examine their spatiotemporal distribution and relationship with precipitation. From 2010 to 2022, China experienced a total of 710 fatal landslide events, causing 5158 fatalities. The data revealed a declining trend in both the number of fatal landslides and associated fatalities, with the number of fatal landslides demonstrating a recurring cycle of 3–4 years marked by continuous decreases within each cycle. The initial year of a new cycle witnessed a significant increase in the number of fatal landslides, suggesting a periodic occurrence, which is related to El Niño. The central subtropical humid region recorded the highest number of fatal landslide events, attributed to its highest annual precipitation. The trend in fatal landslides closely corresponded with variations in precipitation, increasing in spring and summer and decreasing in autumn and winter. The cumulative frequency distributions of fatal landslides and fatalities followed a power-law distribution, with a sharp decline observed when exceeding a certain value, indicating a deflection effect. Despite the low population density, the plateau climate region has the highest risk of life loss among all climate regions. Understanding the spatial distribution of non-seismic fatal landslides can significantly aid in formulating more effective disaster prevention and mitigation policies.