53 killed in natural disasters in China in April

Beijing, May 14: As many as 53 people were killed and 16 others listed missing in natural disasters across China last month which affected more than 5.6 million people and caused direct economic losses of about USD 550 million.

The disasters included drought, earthquakes, floods, forest fires, gales and hail, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today, citing a Ministry of Civil Affairs statement released yesterday.

They caused about 3.6 billion yuan (about USD 550 million) in direct economic losses, it said. More than 53,000 people had to be relocated, 28,000 of whom needed emergency assistance, while about 6,000 houses collapsed, mostly in southern regions hit by floods, the report said.

Overall damage was generally less than in the same period last year, during which 68 people were killed.

PTI