Natural disasters cost China $13B In January-June
China has reported a staggering direct economic loss of 93.16 billion yuan ($12.83 billion) in the first half of 2023 due to a series of natural disasters, marking the highest first-half loss since 2019, according to the Emergency Management Ministry.
The nation grappled with a variety of calamities from January to June, including severe flooding, drought, and extreme temperatures. Notable events included heavy snowfall and cold spells earlier in the year, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Xinjiang, landslides in the southwest, and significant flooding along the Yellow River and in southern provinces.
The impact has been profound, with approximately 32.38 million individuals affected by these disasters, leading to the disappearance or death of 322 people. Additionally, about 856,000 individuals required emergency resettlement, and 23,000 homes were destroyed. The agricultural sector was hit hard, with around 3.17 million hectares of crops impacted.
This year’s losses significantly surpass the 38.23 billion yuan recorded during the same period last year, when 95 individuals were reported missing or deceased.
In total, 48.76 million people were affected by natural disasters throughout all of 2022, underscoring the growing severity of these events. In response, the government has allocated 4.17 billion yuan for disaster management so far this year, with an additional 546 million yuan designated last month specifically for agricultural production and disaster relief efforts.
As China continues to face these challenges, the government is under increasing pressure to enhance disaster preparedness and response strategies to mitigate future economic impacts.
