Natural disasters cause 147 deaths and missing persons in China

The Chinese Authorities announced, on Friday, that natural disasters had caused, during last July, the death and loss of 147 people, especially after heavy rains that fell on the capital, Beijing, that the country had not witnessed in 140 years.

The Ministry of Emergency Management stated, in a statement, that 142 of the victims were caused by floods or geological disasters, while the remaining five deaths or disappearances occurred as a result of other natural disasters such as drought.

It confirmed the collapse of more than 2,300 homes due to these disasters, while its direct economic losses amounted to about 15.8 billion yuan ($2.2 billion).

The heavy rains, which fell in several regions in China after the storm Duxuri, are the most severe in more than a century, confirming that the country has passed over recent months with volatile climatic conditions, as a result of the growing global warming phenomenon, ranging from record heat waves, heavy rains, and massive floods.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency