Disasters kill over 800 since June
Print Edition
MORE than 800 people have died and about 200 are missing in a series of natural disasters that have struck China since June, the worst casualty figures since a similar period in 2011.
Large parts of central, eastern and northern China have been hit by flooding this summer, while a typhoon left a wave of destruction this month and a freak tornado killed at least 98 in the eastern province of Jiangsu in June.
Since the year began, at least 1,074 people have died in natural disasters — 833 of them since June — with 270 missing, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said yesterday.
The most notable events included floods, heavy winds, hail and a range of geological disasters, said Yang Xiaodong, deputy head of the disaster relief department of the ministry.
In total, natural disasters caused 298 billion yuan (US$44.63 billion) in direct economic losses.
About 400,000 houses collapsed and 6.24 million residents were relocated.
Disasters since June have caused an estimated 253 billion yuan in economic losses.
Total damage in the first seven months of the year was much heavier than over the same period in recent years, Yang said.
Anhui, Fujian, Guizhou, Hebei, Hubei, Jiangsu and Jiangxi provinces were among the hardest hit regions.
Local governments in Hebei underestimated the intensity of the rain, failed to provide sufficient emergency response, and were late and inaccurate in disaster assessment, Yang said in response to the devastating flash floods that left 130 people dead and 110 others missing in Hebei last week.
“Torrential rain cut off local communication, power and traffic, resulting in delayed warnings about the impending deluge, failure to evacuate people in danger and failure to report casualties in time,” said Yang, who has just returned from Hebei.
Five local officials had been suspended as of Monday for dereliction of duty during the deadly flood in Hebei as public outrage mounted, with many questioning why they were not informed of the floods. Others complained that officials failed to organize an evacuation before the flood crested.
Hebei has not seen such severe flooding for 20 years, which led to a lack of awareness and experience to deal with the disaster, Yang said.
He added that illegal occupation of river courses had prevented flood passage and control. Further investigation is under way, and officials who failed to perform their duties will be harshly punished, Yang said.
According to the civil affairs ministry, the central government has allocated more than 1.67 billion yuan this year to help people in disaster-hit areas with emergency relocation, resettlement, reconstruction of damaged houses, and to assist those who have lost loved ones.
This year, the ministry and the China National Commission for Disaster Reduction have already sent 17 emergency teams to assist relief work on the ground.
Separately, the government on the southern island province of Hainan issued a typhoon warning for a tropical storm that is expected to hit in the early hours today. It is expected to cross Hainan Island and make landfall in southern China.
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