December 11, 2025
NEWSLETTER
Landslide catastrophes: growing concern, poor response
Loyal readers will have noticed that we dedicated several of our Newsletters to the problem of geohazards, and the connection between climate change, land deformations and the chronic issue of inadequate preparedness. And before the world slips into the festive calm of the Christmas season, we want to use this final 2025 Newsletter to draw attention once again to an imminent and growing threat: the accelerating number of landslides and the devastating human toll that moving earth continues to inflict across the globe.
As the data published by EOS shows, the number of fatal landslides has surged well above the long-term average during the last years. In 2025 alone, 104 fatal landslides were recorded, causing at least 2,365 deaths — a figure which is most likely an understatement. The year 2025 is tracking only slightly below the record-setting and exceptionally tragic year of 2024. August 2025, in particular, was dominated by severe and fatal landslides across South Asia, Africa and the Pacific.
Below, we recount the most catastrophic landslides of 2024–2025, ordered from the deadliest to those where tragedy was mitigated thanks to better preparedness. Together, they paint a stark picture of where global risk stands today — and what must change.
Tarasin, Sudan — 31 August 2025
Estimated fatalities 375–1,573.
The deadliest known landslide of the past two years struck the remote village of Tarasin in the Marrah Mountains of Central Darfur. Days of heavy rainfall triggered a massive slope collapse that swept away homes and entire families. The disaster unfolded in at least two waves; tragically, many victims were buried during a second collapse as they attempted to rescue those caught in the first. With the region already crippled by conflict, humanitarian access was almost impossible. Rescue teams arrived only by foot or donkey days later, ensuring the final death toll will never be fully known.
Enga Province, Papua New Guinea — 24 May 2024
Approx. 670 fatalities; possibly over 2,000 buried
In the high mountains of Papua New Guinea’s Enga Province, one of the largest and most lethal non-volcanic landslides in modern history struck in the early hours of the morning, engulfing several villages including Yambali and Kaokalam. Entire communities were erased beneath millions of cubic metres of debris. Official UN figures report around 670 deaths, but local estimates suggest the true toll could exceed 2,000, as many victims were never recovered. Preparedness in this remote region was minimal: slopes were unmanaged, hazard mapping incomplete, and early-warning systems absent. Rugged terrain and poor infrastructure further crippled rescue efforts.
Wayanad, Kerala, India — 30 July 2024
400+ fatalities; nearly 10,000 displaced.
A series of night-time landslides devastated the Wayanad district during intense monsoon rains, burying villages such as Mundakkai, Chooralmala and Punjirimattom. With many residents asleep, escape was impossible. Over 400 deaths were confirmed and thousands more were displaced. Although India’s meteorological services had issued rainfall warnings, the local hazard zoning was insufficient, and communities on steep slopes lacked effective early-warning mechanisms. The combination of extreme rainfall — increasingly common due to climate change — deforestation, quarrying and dense rural settlement created a deadly convergence of vulnerabilities.
Gofa Zone, South Ethiopia — 21–22 July 2024
257 confirmed deaths; up to 500 feared.
Two consecutive landslides struck the Gezei Gofa woreda following days of torrential rain. The second collapse hit while local residents and volunteers were digging through the debris of the first landslide, dramatically amplifying the human toll. At least 257 lives were officially lost, though humanitarian agencies have warned that the number could be closer to 500. The region had virtually no landslide monitoring or evacuation protocols, and rescue operations involved villagers digging bare-handed through unstable debris.
Lang Nu, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam — 10 September 2024
67 fatalities; Vietnam’s worst recorded natural landslide
Triggered by extreme rainfall associated with Typhoon Yagi, the long-runout Lang Nu landslide destroyed much of the hamlet and killed 67 people, making it the most severe natural landslide disaster in Vietnam’s recorded history. While Vietnam has national-level disaster management structures, local-scale slope monitoring and high-resolution hazard mapping had not yet reached remote areas like Lang Nu. In the aftermath, authorities have focused on relocation and improved hazard zoning, but the tragedy highlights gaps in local-level preparedness despite national efforts.
Blatten, Switzerland — 28 May 2025
0 fatalities
In striking contrast to the tragedies above, the massive rock–ice collapse above the village of Blatten in the Lötschental valley caused no fatalities, despite releasing roughly 10 million m³ of material and burying large parts of the settlement. Authorities had evacuated the village nine days earlier, following close monitoring of glacier and rock-mass instability. Switzerland’s well-developed hazard-monitoring framework — including glaciological observation, seismic precursors and terrain-motion tracking — prevented what could otherwise have been a deadly catastrophe. Although the material damage is extensive, Blatten demonstrates the life-saving power of preparedness.
Across continents and climates, the same patterns emerge:
- Extreme rainfall events linked to climate change are becoming more frequent and more intense.
- Vulnerable communities often live on or near unstable slopes without adequate hazard zoning.
- Many regions lack effective monitoring, early-warning, or evacuation capacity.
- Fatalities are highest where preparedness is weakest.
Yet the successful evacuation in Switzerland shows that catastrophic landslides do not inevitably lead to mass casualties. With the right tools, warnings and planning, lives can be saved.
This is why we consistently repeat: the first level monitoring and early warnings are essential and remote sensing and InSAR are irreplaceable tools providing key inputs for effective preparedness.
Combined with optical imagery, rainfall data, modelling, and ground-based instruments, it enables authorities to identify dangerous slopes, issue timely warnings, and evacuate high-risk communities. As climate pressures mount, we cannot afford to rely on luck or after-the-fact response. Proactive monitoring using InSAR and other Earth-observation technologies is not optional — it is the clearest path to preventing future catastrophes, protecting vulnerable populations, and building a safer, more resilient world.
