Earthquake induced landslides and lateral spreading are another cause for significant damage during earthquakes. Landslides are a significant cause of fatalities in Asia and Eastern Europe where they wipe out towns and villages, and cut off access for aid and relief. In mountainous areas, large landslides can block streams and rivers creating new lakes such as Quake Lake in Montana following the 1959 Hebgen Earthquake (M=7.3).
Lateral spreading is closely related to liquefaction, where there is an open face (cliff, bank, ditch, etc.) nearby. As a result, the soil mass moves, or flows, toward the open face resulting in settlement and surface cracking of the interior area.
