Typhoon Dolphin drives China’s August disaster losses to US$5.38bil

China reported on Friday that direct economic losses from natural disasters in August totaled 36.03 billion yuan, equivalent to US$5.38 billion. The emergency management ministry recorded 595 deaths or disappearances due to natural disasters during the month, affecting 12.62 million people and 857,400 hectares of crops. The most damaging disaster was Typhoon Dolphin, responsible for 28.26 billion yuan in direct economic losses, accounting for 78% of the month's total losses.

Typhoon Dolphin, the strongest typhoon to hit China in 2023, caused extensive damage across multiple regions, affecting 8.8 million people and 365,900 hectares of crops. The four typhoons that made landfall in August had the most widespread impact, with Typhoon Dolphin affecting the greatest number of people and area. In addition to Typhoon Dolphin, devastating mudslides and floods occurred at a Tibet-Nepal border crossing, resulting in over 1,400 deaths in both countries.

The exact toll from the glacier collapse-triggered disaster is still under verification. China's official figures indicate that the mudslide claimed 43 lives with 519 still missing. Above-warning-level floods were more frequent than usual nationwide, with geological disasters particularly prevalent in western regions.