Spatiotemporal variations of non-seismically fatal landslides in Northwest China: A case study from Shaanxi province

Landslides are one of the devastating geo-hazards that result in severe casualties in Northwest China (NW China) every year. However, a comprehensive landslide database is yet to be available for quantitatively assessing the distribution of fatal landslides in NW China. To investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of non-seismically fatal landslides in NW China, we carried out a study using fatal landslides that occurred in Shaanxi province as an example to construct a new database by incorporating data of fatal landslides that occurred in the period between 1996 and 2018. A total of 332 non-seismically fatal landslides that claimed 1132 lives were compiled in this database. Additionally, a thorough study of spatial and temporal variations of fatal landslides reveals that anthropogenic landslides occur approximately evenly throughout the year. Natural fatal landslides, however, rise noticeably in July, August, and September. The spatial distribution analysis showed that fatal landslides in Shaanxi province of China were mainly distributed in the An’ kang, Yan’an, and Shangluo regions. Additionally, areas with relatively high relief (46.1 to 123 m), steep–slope topography (19.2 to 26.1°), and intense precipitation (465 to 937 mm) are more vulnerable to naturally-triggered landslides. The spatiotemporal analysis of the fatal landslides revealed increasing trends in zones such as Yan’an and Yulin cities (in northern part), and in An’kang city (in southern part). When combined with other information, the Fatal Landslide Database of Shaanxi Province can be used to provide a guide for risk assessment and spatial planning studies to mitigate geo-hazard risks.