July disasters killed 147, affected millions: ministry
Mainland officials said on Friday that natural disasters had caused 147 deaths or disappearances in July, after the heaviest rains since records began hit the capital at the end of the month. The nation has been hit hard by extreme weather in recent months, from record-breaking heatwaves to deadly rain. Torrential rain brought on in the aftermath of Storm Doksuri, which hit the mainland as a typhoon last Friday before veering northwards, is the most severe recorded in 140 years, when records began. The Ministry of Emergency Management said that 142 of the deaths or disappearances recorded in July were caused by flooding or geological disasters. The remaining five deaths or disappearances were due to other natural disasters such as drought. Overall, floods and other geological disasters affected individuals to varying degrees over 7 million times. More than 2,300 houses collapsed, and direct economic losses amounted to 15.8 billion yuan, the release said. With rainfall easing, the focus has moved to the relief operation, with hundreds of rescue workers from the Chinese Red Cross being sent to hard-hit areas to clean up debris and help evacuate victims, Xinhua said.