Natural disasters leave 578 dead

BEIJING: Casualties due to natural disasters were down in China over the past nine months, despite serious flooding during the period, the Ministry of Emergency Management said.

A total of 578 people were killed or missing due to natural disasters in the past three quarters, down 33.5% year-on-year.

About 130 million people have been affected in the first nine months, up 12.8% from the same period last year.

About 83,000 buildings were destroyed in such disasters, down 33% year-on-year.

The country experienced serious flooding in the first three quarters, up 13% year-on-year, ranking the second most serious since 1961.

Flooding above warning levels hit 836 rivers in 26 provinces and seven major river basins in China, 80% more than the average in previous years, and the highest figure since 1998.