China's natural disaster losses hit $30b in first nine months of 2026

Southwestern, southern China account for majority of affected populations and ​fatalities

China recorded 199.36 billion yuan ($29.9 billion) in direct losses from natural disasters in the first ​nine months of 2026, mainly driven by severe typhoons, flooding ‌and landslides, its Ministry of Emergency Management said on Thursday.

The losses were down 8 per cent from 217.65 billion yuan over the same period last year. Southwestern ​and southern China accounted for the majority of affected populations and ​fatalities.

"Several sudden extreme disasters in southern regions led to a significant increase in deaths and missing persons compared to the five-year average," the ministry said.

Read: Xi calls for improving disaster prevention as floods, landslides batter China

Overall, 1,162 ​people have died or have been classified as missing from ​China's natural disasters in the first nine months of the year, up from 742 ‌a ⁠year earlier.

Eastern coastal provinces suffered the heaviest property destruction and economic losses due to repeated typhoon landfalls.

Geological hazards, which include rain-triggered landslides and mudslides, caused the highest proportion of fatalities and ​made up 60% ​of all disaster ⁠types, while typhoons caused the largest amount of direct financial damage, the ministry added.