A Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs report shows that, during 2009 in China, in as many as 479 million times, people were victimized by all sorts of natural catastrophes; 1,528 people died or disappeared; 47.2 million hectares (116.7 million acres) of crops were damaged; and 0.84 million buildings collapsed. The direct economic loss amounted to 252.3 billion yuan (US$36.9 billion).
Source: People’s Daily, June 10, 2010
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1027/11841364.html