Natural disasters, cost China $13.13 billion, Emergency Management, Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County, 39.14 million
Natural disasters cost China $13.13 billion in 2022, according to a report
Translate This News In

The Ministry of Emergency Management reported Thursday that China’s direct financial damage from natural disasters totaled 88.81 billion yuan, or approximately USD 13.13 billion, in the first half of 2022.
Floods and hailstorms were the major natural disasters in China from January to June, with droughts, cold temps, earthquakes, snow disasters, and forest and grassland fires also happening to varying degrees, according to Shen Zhanli, the ministry’s spokesperson, at a press conference.

Natural disasters affected nearly 39.14 million people during the period, with 178 people killed or missing and 1.28 million residents migrated.

Natural disasters damaged more than 18,000 houses and 3.62 million hectares of cropland, according to Shen.

READ:   The United States condemns the deadly Houthi attack on Abu Dhabi, while the UAE asserts its right to respond

Heavy rainstorms sparked mountain torrents in South-West China’s Sichuan province on Sunday, killing six people and leaving 12 missings.

The incident occurred at 7 a.m. after the water levels in some rivers rose dramatically, resulting in floods mixed with floating objects, mud, sand, and stones, according to Xinhua, citing local authorities.

Heavy rains lashed the Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County from 8 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday, affecting 13 townships and roughly 22,300 people, with up to 110 millimetres of precipitation. The floods in Baishi Township killed six people and left 12 people missing.
According to Xinhua, Chinese authorities have dispatched more than 400 rescuers to search for those reported missing, repair roads and communications networks, and conduct other rescue operations.

READ:   After being hit by a Ukrainian missile, a Russian helicopter splits into two

According to the report, over 1,300 people have been relocated, including 480 from Baishi Township.

Another tragic incident occurred recently when an ornamental building fell from a height of about 12 metres on Saturday in North China’s Hebei Province, killing eight people.

The incident occurred during a rainstorm in the Luquan District of Shijiazhuang, the capital city of Hebei, when a fallen structure struck nine people who were sheltering from the rain.

Since May 28, monsoon downpours and rain-induced floods have wreaked havoc in 80 counties across the province.

Floods and heavy rains have affected more than 3.75 million residents in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to local authorities.

READ:   Ex-National Security Official Expelled from Communist Party of China