Climate Crisis Threatens More Deadly NZ Landslides

New Zealand faces a growing threat from its deadliest natural hazard: landslides. Experts warn that more intense storms, driven by global warming, will likely cause these events to increase. The warning follows two fatal landslides on the North Island. The country's landscape already shows a long history of such disasters. Landslides have caused over 1,800 deaths since records began—more than earthquakes and volcanoes combined. Scientists say the climate crisis is triggering more frequent and severe rainfall. This saturates the ground, making unstable slopes more likely to collapse. The recent tragedies have raised urgent questions about how to protect communities from this escalating risk.