The Ministry of Emergency Management released the national natural disaster situation in August 2021

Recently, the Ministry of Emergency Management, together with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Health Commission, the National Bureau of Statistics, the China Meteorological Administration, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, the State Administration of Grain and Material Reserves, the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, the Red Cross Society of China, and China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., conducted a joint analysis of the national natural disaster situation in August. In August, China's natural disasters were mainly floods and geological disasters, with varying degrees of drought, wind and hail, typhoons, earthquakes, and forest fires. According to verification, various natural disasters affected 14.627 million people, resulting in 79 deaths and missing persons, 386,000 people urgently relocated; more than 8,500 houses collapsed, and 83,000 houses were damaged to varying degrees; 2228.8 thousand hectares of crops were affected; and the direct economic losses amounted to 26.24 billion yuan. Compared with the average value of the same period in the past five years, the number of people affected, the number of deaths and missing persons, the number of collapsed houses, and the direct economic losses decreased by 53%, 56%, 69%, and 60%, respectively.

According to preliminary statistics, from January to August this year, various natural disasters affected 83.522 million people, resulting in 684 deaths and missing persons, and 4.42 million people urgently relocated; 144,000 houses collapsed, and 1.472 million houses were damaged to varying degrees; 9198.3 thousand hectares of crops were affected; and the direct economic losses amounted to 251.22 billion yuan. Compared with the average value of the same period in the past five years, the number of people affected, the number of deaths and missing persons, the number of collapsed houses, and the direct economic losses decreased by 36%, 21%, 22%, and 20%, respectively.

The main characteristics of natural disasters nationwide in August are:

1. Overall rainfall across the country was higher than normal, with severe flooding in parts of Hubei and Shaanxi.

In August, a total of seven large-scale heavy rainfall events occurred nationwide, with the average rainfall 14% higher than the same period of previous years. The southern part of Shaanxi, the Sichuan Basin, and the middle reaches of the Yangtze River experienced frequent rainfall, with rainfall 50% to 100% higher than the same period of previous years; rainfall in the eastern part of central and western Northwest China and southwestern South China was 30% to 70% lower than normal. A total of 239 rivers in Heilongjiang, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, and Xinjiang experienced floods exceeding warning levels, including 38 rivers exceeding the guaranteed level and 2 rivers exceeding historical levels. In mid-to-late August, Suizhou and Xiangyang in Hubei, and Xi'an, Ankang, and Hanzhong in Shaanxi suffered severe floods, with more than 110,000 people urgently relocated in the two provinces, 49 deaths and missing persons, and direct economic losses of 7.6 billion yuan. In addition, local flooding occurred in Sichuan, Chongqing, Hunan, and Yunnan in southern China, and Beijing, Hebei, Heilongjiang, and Henan in northern China. Overall, the floods in August affected 7.366 million people, resulting in 56 deaths and missing persons, more than 8,300 houses collapsed, and direct economic losses of 16.99 billion yuan. Compared with the average value of the same period in the past five years, the number of people affected, the number of deaths and missing persons, the number of collapsed houses, and the direct economic losses decreased by 2%, 52%, 49%, and 27%, respectively. In addition, a total of 621 geological disasters occurred nationwide, mainly small and medium-sized landslides and collapses, mainly concentrated in the southwest and central south regions.

2. Drought in North China, Northeast China, and South China basically subsided, while drought continued in parts of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia.

Since July, due to less rainfall, drought has occurred in parts of eastern Northwest China, North China, eastern Northeast China, southern Fujian, most of Guangdong, and southern Guangxi, with severe drought in parts of eastern Northwest China. In August, significant rainfall occurred successively in southern Fujian, most of Guangdong, southern Guangxi, North China, and Northeast China, and the drought basically subsided. Currently, drought continues in parts of Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and western Inner Mongolia. Overall, drought in August was less severe than in the same period of previous years, affecting 6.24 million people in 13 provinces (regions) including Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Guangxi, and Fujian, with 1497.5 thousand hectares of crops affected and direct economic losses of 7.38 billion yuan. Compared with the average value of the same period in the past five years, the number of people affected, the area of crops affected, and the direct economic losses decreased by 51%, 46%, and 42%, respectively.

3. Severe convective weather concentrated in North China and the Huang-Huai region, with relatively light wind and hailstorms.

In August, a total of six large-scale severe convective weather events occurred nationwide, mainly in North China, the Huang-Huai region, the Sichuan Basin, and Hubei, with the most severe convective weather events in North China and the Huang-Huai region. The frequency of severe convective weather was higher in the first and middle ten days of the month. From August 4th to 5th, strong thunderstorms of 8 to 10 levels occurred in central Hebei, with the maximum wind force reaching level 11; from August 8th to 9th, thunderstorms and hail occurred in most of North China and central Inner Mongolia; from August 10th to 15th, strong winds and hail occurred in many parts of Xinjiang, damaging some fruits and vegetables. Overall, wind and hailstorms in August affected 929,000 people nationwide, resulting in 6 deaths and direct economic losses of 1.68 billion yuan. Compared with the average value of the same period in the past five years, the number of people affected, the number of deaths and missing persons, and the direct economic losses decreased by 38%, 69%, and 31%, respectively.

4. Typhoon "Lupit" landed in Guangdong and Fujian, with local occurrences of rapid transitions from drought to flood.

In August, a total of four typhoons formed in the Northwest Pacific and the South China Sea, 1.7 fewer than the average for the same period of previous years, with one typhoon landing in China. On August 5th, Typhoon "Lupit" (No. 9) landed in Shantou, Guangdong, and then in Dongshan, Fujian, with relatively weak wind and rain. While effectively relieving the drought in the southeastern coastal areas, it also caused a rapid transition from drought to flood in parts of Fujian. Overall, typhoon disasters in August were significantly less severe, affecting 74,000 people, with 7.2 thousand hectares of crops affected and direct economic losses of 130 million yuan.

5. Two earthquakes of magnitude 5 or above occurred in the west, causing no significant losses.

In August, a total of two earthquakes of magnitude 5 or above occurred in mainland China: a 5.8-magnitude earthquake in Maduo, Qinghai on August 13th and a 5.5-magnitude earthquake in Aksai, Gansu on August 26th. Both epicenters were sparsely populated, causing no casualties or significant property losses. The 4.8-magnitude earthquake in Debao, Guangxi on August 4th damaged nearly 500 houses and some roads, power, and other infrastructure, with direct economic losses of more than 19 million yuan.

6. The forest fire situation was stable, and no grassland fires occurred.

In August, a total of two forest fires occurred nationwide, with no major forest fires; no grassland fires occurred. Compared with the average value of the same period in the past five years, the number of forest fires decreased by 17, a decrease of 89.6%.