Landslides in Urban Region of the Central Taiwan Induced by the 1999 Chi-chi Earthquake

Abstract

Sprawling urbanization leads to increases in the risk of landslide damage to residential and industrial suburbs. Several incidents of landslide related damage to urban developments occurred along the Cher-Lung-Pu fault of 1999 Chi-chiearthquake on the eastern edge of the Tai-chung basin in Taiwan, severely damaging homes and infrastructure. Six representative cases of landslides are discussed. They have provided important data concerning the effects of earthquakes in sprawling urban districts, and serve as a useful lesson for the future development of industrial countries.