Most deaths from avalanches or landslides were recorded in China (3600), followed by Philippines (>1800), Indonesia (>1400), Sierra Leone (>1100)and Nepal (>1000). Most of the recorded avalanches/landslide happened in China (50), followed by Indonesia (44), India (20), Afghanistan (16) and Nepal (14).
Avalanches are the rapid downslope movement of snow and ice in steep mountain areas. The influence of gravity on the accumulated weight of newly fallen uncompacted snow or on thawing older snow leads to avalanches which may be triggered in a variety of ways including earthquakes. Avalanches are most common during winter or spring but glacier movements may cause ice avalanches during summer. A landslide is a sudden collapse of a large mass of hillside. Landslides are downward and outward movement of slope materials such as rock debris and earth, under the influence of gravity. Landslides may be set off by an earthquake, by saturation with heavy rain, or by crashing waves. (Quora)
