Beijing: China faced a barrage of natural disasters in the first quarter, resulting in direct economic losses totaling 23.76 billion yuan ($3.28 billion), as revealed by the government on Saturday.
The Ministry of Emergency Management highlighted various calamities, including multiple cold spells, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake striking Xinjiang in the northwest, landslides in Yunnan province in the southwest, and flooding along the Yellow River.
Tragically, these disasters claimed the lives of 79 individuals, with 110,000 requiring emergency relocation and resettlement. A staggering 10.4 million people across 26 regions and provinces felt the impact during this period, as detailed in the ministry’s report.
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Moreover, additional natural calamities compounded the nation’s woes, such as a drought affecting 424,000 hectares (10,500 acres) of crops in the southwest, sandstorms sweeping through the northwest, and forest fires raging in the southwest and south.
Last year, China endured natural disasters resulting in 345.45 billion yuan ($47.7 billion) of direct economic losses, with 691 individuals reported dead or missing, as disclosed by the ministry in January.
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In a bid to fortify disaster response capabilities, the ministry announced plans for a three-year campaign targeting issues that hinder swift responses during emergencies and accidents, including lapses in production safety across sectors like mining.
