Analysis of Landslides Triggered by October 2005, Kashmir Earthquake

Conclusion Kashmir earthquake caused thousands of landslides and made many slopes unstable. The Kashmir area is highly prone to landslide hazards due to its geology and structures. Mass movements can easily be triggered by slight tremors in the region. Shaking from any major future earthquake will cause liquefaction of soil, hence causing the slope to lose cohesion. Older landslides can also be activated from earthquake induced landslides. Undercutting of slopes by river erosion and human activities are the main reasons for secondary failures. More than 50% of landslides were caused by human impacts like conversion of forest land, occupancy on exposed slopes and construction of roads. The landslides patterns are quantifiably related to ground motions. Co-seismic landslides occurred at regions with steep slopes and high roughness under the influence of strong ground motion. The study show that co-seismic landslides increases in regions close to epicenter and with increasing earthquake intensity. It is also worth noting that fissures and ground crack which were induced by main shock are still present and pose a potential threat for future landslides in case of another earthquake activity or under extreme weather conditions. The debris produced as a result of landslides was re-deposited by floods resulting in major landscape modification. The landslides patterns are quantifiably related to ground motions. Co-seismic landslides occurred at regions with steep slopes and high rough...
Source: PLOS Currents Disasters - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Source Type: research