The process of liquefaction triggered by the ground shaking effects of an earthquake causes the soil particles to break apart and sink. The water contained is displaced and rises to the surface. The result is that buildings and infrastructure could be swallowed into the ground by several metres in depth. The Alaskan earthquake illustrates the fact that seismicity is a major landslide trigger. It has been historically noted that many landslides occurred as the result of a major earthquake.
Earthquakes destabilise slopes by shear stress thereby weakening the structure of slope material.
This kind of seismic hazard can lead to not only immediate destruction but also the long-term effects have been studied by geologists and earth scientists alike. The 1994 paper by Keefer outlines the methods and results from monitoring the erosion rates of earthquake-induced landslides in 12 seismically active regions. While high erosion rates were found in Hawaii, New Zealand and San Francisco Bay, far lower rates applied for Iran, Tibet and central Japan. This was evident in the large volumes of landslide material dislodged by past earthquakes. It was specifically aimed at investigating the triggering mechanisms of landslides.