Dear Ijaz,

I am not aware of many details about that event but I would say that this could be a classical case of multi-risk scenario. When an area exposed to multiple natural hazards (i.e. eartquake and rainfall-induced landslides, like in your case) is stricken by more the one typology of event the overall impact and demage can significantly rise. There is a wide literature on that topic available on the internet.

Good luck,

Velio

This part "M 6.0 Ranau earthquake dated on June 05, 2015 coupling with intense and prolonged rainfall" of the statement is important for me to diagnose the relationship for which I am interested. 

Dear Ijaz,

there is nothing unusual in the text you cited in your question.

Obviously, an earthquake cannot cause rainfalls. Volcanic eruptions can cause it (due to dusts immision in the high troposphere), but there is not a relationship between earthquake (lithosphere) and rainfall (atmosphere).

However, what the text you cited says is clear and is talking about the relationship between earthquake and mass movements (landslides, rockfalls, debris-flow).

Prolonged rainfall events are key factors for ignite mass movements such as debris-flow, rotational and sheet-on-sheet landslides. This is because in a region where hydrogeological instability exists (limestone above evaporites, schists or swelling clay, for example), water can flow within rock layers, eroding and putting excessive weight on slope terrains.

Thus, just after an earthquake, seismically-induced landslides are (unfortunatly) a common related-hazard. In fact, just after earthquakes (while aftershoks still occur), the geologists must work with fireworks or army (emergency services) to monitor mass movements in the targeted area.

If prolonged rainfalls event follow or coincide with an earthquake, now it is clear that water is an augmenting factor for such mass movement events.

Best regards

Nic

Yes, there is a relationship between prolonged rainfall and earthquake. For example, see the link below:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/11/111215-rainfall-hurricanes-typhoons-earthquakes-science-earth/

@ Tatsuo

Interesting article Dr Tabata.

This article explains how rainfalls might induce earthquakes (rain --> earthquake).

What I meant was that earthquakes cannot cause rainfall (earthquake --> rainfall), as the question is asking about a relationship between an earthquake and a successive "just after" rainfall event.

But interesting read!

best regards

Nic

Dear Ijaz,

My colleagues have explained very well the lack of connection between earthquakes and rainfall. What I want to emphasize is that earthquakes can sometimes cause soil liquefaction and landslides or mudflows even without precipitation, but if this event is followed by a heavy rainfall it is logical that the consequences will be amplified.

Best regards, 

Calin