Ministry: Natural disasters affect 16 million in China in July

A total of 16 million people in China were affected by various natural disasters that caused 147 deaths in July, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Emergency Management.

Meanwhile, 703,000 people were urgently relocated and resettled. The calamities also resulted in the collapse of 4,300 houses, severe damage to 8,400 houses, and minor damage to 40,000 houses. Additionally, around 3,134 thousand hectares of farmland were affected by the disasters, leading to a direct economic loss of 41 billion yuan.

China is prone to natural disasters, with floods, typhoons, geological hazards, and droughts being the main occurrences. Windstorms, earthquakes, sandstorms, and forest fires are also observed in various regions, though to a lesser extent.

In response to the severe rainstorm and flood disasters in Heilongjiang province, the National Disaster Reduction Committee and the Ministry of Emergency Management have activated a Level 4 emergency response. A task force has been dispatched to the affected areas to assess the situation and provide guidance and assistance to local authorities in providing basic life assistance for the affected people.

Efforts are being made to ensure that the affected population receives the necessary support and assistance during this challenging time.

The government is working proactively to mitigate the impact of natural disasters and reduce their devastating effects on people’s lives and economic assets.