(MENAFN– The Rio Times) In the third quarter of 2024, China experienced significant economic losses from natural disasters, such as powerful typhoons and severe floods. The Ministry of Emergency Management reported on October 22 that direct losses from July to September reached 230 billion yuan ($28.3 billion), more than double the losses from the first half of the year.
These disasters affected over 84 million people, resulting in the tragic loss of 836 lives or missing persons, and forcing nearly 3.35 million people to evacuate. Property damage was extensive, with 50,000 homes destroyed and 630,000 damaged.
The agricultural sector was hit hard, impacting about 9.05 million hectares of crops and driving up food prices. In September, Typhoon Bebinca paralyzed Shanghai, while Super Typhoon Yagi hit Hainan province in October, leaving nearly one million homes without power.
The increase in severe weather raises concerns about climate change. Although China implemented a national adaptation strategy over two years ago, the rising economic losses show that resilience against such disasters is still lacking. Effective disaster management and climate adaptation are crucial for balancing economic growth and environmental protection.
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