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China encountered significant economic losses amounting to 23.76 billion yuan ($3.28 billion) in the first three months of 2024, due to a series of severe natural disasters, Reuters reported. The information, provided by China‘s emergency management ministry, highlights the substantial impact of environmental events including floods, droughts, an earthquake, and freezing conditions across various regions.
In detail, the ministry’s report cited specific events such as several cold spells, a major 7.1 magnitude earthquake in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, landslides in Yunnan province in the southwest, and flooding along the Yellow River which have collectively contributed to the high cost of damages.
These disasters not only caused direct economic impacts but also led to significant human suffering, with 79 people reported dead and 110,000 needing emergency relocation and resettlement. Additionally, around 10.4 million people across 26 regions and provinces were affected during this period.
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The range of disasters also included a drought that affected approximately 424,000 hectares (10,500 acres) of crops in the southwest, sandstorms in the northwest, and forest fires in the southwest and south of China. Reuters noted that the ministry’s January report indicated that last year’s natural disasters in China led to even more dire consequences, with 345.45 billion yuan ($47.7 billion) in direct economic losses and 691 casualties reported either dead or missing.
Moreover, the ministry outlined its proactive measures by announcing a three-year campaign in January to tackle problems that delay response times to disasters and accidents. This initiative particularly focuses on enhancing production safety across critical sectors such as mining, where lapses have historically exacerbated the effects of natural calamities.
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