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Malaysia faces substantial risks from rainfall-triggered landslides driven by extreme meteorological conditions. Between 1961 and 2024, the country recorded over , causing significant loss of life and economic damages exceeding $1 billion. This figure is set to rise in the future due to climate change and rapid urbanisation, leaving low-income households and small businesses highly vulnerable.

Whilst there are existing systems for monitoring and mapping these landslides, researchers have found a critical gap in understanding the economic losses landslides cause and how they can be systematically assessed to support anticipatory and disaster finance solutions for hazard recovery.

The project, ‘Trigger index for rainfall-induced landslide risk assessment for enhanced resilience’ or TRIGGER, will see BGS and project partners and develop a landslide trigger index to support forewarning and rapid recovery. It will link past landslide losses with data on rainfall, ground conditions and the locations where communities and infrastructure assets are most exposed. This will help researchers and stakeholders to better understand the potential impacts of future extreme rainfall.

Through the TRIGGER project, we are linking up with colleagues in Malaysia to develop a landslide trigger index, to assist in better understanding the potential impacts of future extreme rainfall and help build resilience by enabling quicker recovery after disasters.

Dr Nikhil Nedumpallile-Vasu, BGS engineering geologist.

It is anticipated that this project will enable rapid, risk based, post-disaster financial relief, incentivise investment in resilient infrastructure, and support poverty reduction by protecting those most at risk. The project will offer a scalable model for other Indo-Pacific countries facing similar hazard profiles. 

Funding

The project is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office through its ‘’ programme, for innovative and effective climate adaptation and resilience projects.