630 000 people affected by natural disasters in February, up from 66 000 in January, China

Natural disasters affecting China during the month of February claimed the lives of 6 people and affected 630 000. In January, 66 000 people were affected and 7 killed. 

The data was provided by China's Ministry of Emergency Management in a document released March 6, 2019.

The country was mainly hit by earthquakes, low temperatures and snowstorms, as well as floods, hailstorms, landslides and forest fires, which forced more than 3 200 people to evacuate.

Earthquakes resulted in 2 deaths and 44 000 affected, the document states, while natural disasters all together resulted in direct economic losses of 750 million yuan or 11.8 million U.S. dollars.

The Ministry said that the disaster situation during the month was generally unchanged from the same period over the past five years. The affected population and direct economic losses reduced by 72% and 28%, respectively, while the number of damaged houses increased by 107%.

In the month of January, natural disasters affected 66 000 people and claimed the lives of 7 people.

Over 3 100 houses were destroyed and 5 000 ha (12 355 acres) damaged in earthquakes, floods, forest fires and hailstorms. Direct economic losses in January were 180 million yuan or about 26.7 million U.S. dollars.

Casualties and losses in January averaged less than the same period over the previous five years, the ministry said February 4.

Featured image credit: CCTV