It may come as a surprise to some, but Newfoundland and Labrador is in third place in all of Canada when it comes to the number of fatal landslides that have occurred over the last 250 years.

Natural Resources Canada research scientist Andree Blais-Stevens has identified the type and location of fatal landslides across Canada between 1771 and 2019.

Landslides often happen in rocky, mountainous areas, but invisible underlying geologic conditions like clay can also collapse, causing landslides.

According to the research collected, British Columbia has the largest number of fatalities due to landslides at 355, followed by Quebec with 239 and Newfoundland and Labrador at 103.

Blais-Stevens has mapped the incidents which can be used by engineers to conduct risk analysis when constructing homes or other types of infrastructure like roads or bridges near historic landslide sites.

As a result, there have been fewer fatalities over the decades.