|
The
impact of floods, while common in China in summer, has grown
more pronounced this year, affecting over 7 million people
nationwide in July, when Beijing was struck by the worst rains
in 140 years after the capital's hottest June on record.
August, when rainfall usually peaks and summer temperatures
soar, is set for further economic impact from floods and
heatwaves. Rainfall in northeastern provinces could be as much
as 50% higher than normal in August, China's national forecaster
have warned.
July losses from Typhoon Talim, which landed in southern China
in the middle of the month, were 2.61 billion yuan, while losses
from the more destructive Doksuri, the remnants of which are
still being felt in northeastern China, reached 14.74 billion
yuan as of the end of July, the Ministry of Emergency Management
said in a statement late on Friday.
Overall losses, compounded by damage from floods in southwest
and northwest China, far exceeded the 38.23 billion yuan in the
first half of 2023, and pose an unexpected drag on quarterly
growth in the world's second-largest economy, which is already
in want of stimulus.
In the northern province of Hebei, over 1.2 million people had
been evacuated as of Wednesday due to flooding caused by
residual rains from Doksuri.
In the port city of Tianjin, which shares a border with Beijing
and Hebei, local authorities have evacuated about 66,000 people
as they braced for flooding from upstream rivers.
China's top economic planner on Friday earmarked an additional
100 million yuan to support post-disaster recovery in Tianjin
and Hebei on top of the 100 million yuan announced on Wednesday
for Beijing and Hebei. The finance and water resources
ministries separately on Friday also offered 450 million yuan to
support the overall recovery effort.
($1 = 7.1706 Chinese yuan renminbi) (This story has been
corrected to change language in paragraph 2)
(Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by William Mallard)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
