Mudslides are a growing concern in the world as they often take place in many countries. According to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, deadly mudslides occurred in Brazil in February 2023. Among others, the Oso mudslides in the United States in 2014, the Sierra Leone mudslides in 2017 and the Vargas mudslides in Venezuela in 1999 are some of the notable mudslides. Mudslides often cause widespread devastation, leading to the loss of homes, displacement of communities and fatalities. The Vargas mudslides that occurred during intense rainfall caused widespread mudslides — together with flash floods — resulting in the loss of approximately 30,000 lives and significant destruction to infrastructure.
Given that there are diverse natural causes of mudslides including heavy rainfall that are difficult to address, it is crucial to address man-made causes including deforestation and mitigate the impacts of mudslides. But there are also challenges to mitigating the impacts of mudslides. The difficulty of predicting when and where they will occur, as well as the limited resources available for prevention, puts barriers to effective mitigating efforts. Additionally, steep slopes and loose soil make it often challenging to implement effective mitigation measures in many areas. Among others, the lack of financial resources, inadequate infrastructure, government attitudes towards risk management and varying levels of government support and a lack of public awareness put barriers to impact mitigating efforts in different countries.
Governments definitely take diverse steps that help mitigate the impacts of mudslides many times. Different countries implement early warning systems, conduct regular monitoring and assessment of high-risk areas and implement land-use regulations to prevent construction in vulnerable areas and minimize impacts. Early warning systems — such as Early Warning System for Rainfall-Induced Landslides or Early Warning System for Landslides — are in place in several countries including Japan, Switzerland, the United States and Colombia. Additionally, governments invest in infrastructure projects including building retaining walls and improving drainage systems to redirect water flow and reduce the risk of landslides. Among others, governments carry out rescue efforts. Consequently, the impacts of mudslides are reduced many times.
But there are diverse flaws in the government steps taken to mitigate the impacts of landslides. There is, according to multiple sources, an absence of early warning systems in many mudslide susceptible countries. Inadequate infrastructure improvements, inadequate rescue efforts and the lack of effective coordination between government agencies driven by inadequate resources and other causes are also crucial limitations. Among others, many governments that prioritize short-term solutions over long-term measures do not effectively address man-made causes including deforestation and improper land management practices, exacerbating the risk of landslides by removing vegetation that helps hold the soil in place. Consequently, the impacts often remain less mitigated in many countries.
It is crucial for governments to address the loopholes in the steps taken and develop and implement comprehensive strategies that focus on both immediate response and long-term prevention to effectively mitigate the impacts of landslides. Implementing early warning systems, conducting regular monitoring and improving infrastructure in high-risk areas are definitely crucial steps. But effective efforts also need to be made to address diverse man-made causes. Promoting afforestation and reforestation and implementing effective land use planning will be helpful in many countries. Discouraging homes in risk areas, emphasizing effective rescue efforts and creating awareness can also help mitigate the impacts of landslides.
Additionally, political and bureaucratic challenges, which sometimes hinder the efforts to address deforestation and coordination among different agencies responsible for mitigating the impacts of mudslides but are less addressed, need to be addressed in many countries. But all countries are not similarly susceptible to mudslides. Consequently, mitigating efforts are needed more in the countries or regions of the world with mountainous terrain and heavy rainfall, including Nepal, China, the Philippines and parts of Central and South America — which often appear to be at more risk of landslides during the summer monsoon rains.
