China's Battle Against Nature: The 2025 Disaster Aftermath

In the first half of 2025, China saw severe natural disasters lead to direct economic losses exceeding 54 billion yuan, impacting over 23 million citizens, according to a government report released Tuesday. Natural calamities included a strong earthquake in Tibet and severe flooding that caused a majority of the damage.

Among those affected by these disasters, 307 were reported dead or missing, while 620,000 had to be evacuated. Despite widespread damages, the total financial loss was notably 41.9% less than the previous year's first half, which saw unprecedented weather damage costs.

The Ministry of Emergency Management warns of continued dangers as extreme weather events escalate, stressing the need for infrastructure enhancements and better flood defenses. As climate change compounds these issues, China's developing infrastructure is increasingly under pressure.

(With inputs from agencies.)