Deaths from natural disasters surge in China as extreme weather hits southern provinces

According to the Beijing Ministry of Emergency Management, China experienced a notable rise in disaster-related deaths and disappearances during the first nine months of 2026, climbing from 742 to 1,162 victims. The most tragic event was an August flash flood in the Nepal-Tibetan border region, which alone claimed 562 lives. Geological hazards, primarily landslides and mudslides, accounted for the majority of fatalities, whereas the eastern coastal provinces suffered the highest monetary damage due to a succession of typhoons.

Direct material losses were reported, and over five million individuals were forced to relocate to temporary accommodations across the country. Tropical storm activity exceeded historical norms, with 26 typhoons forming in the northwestern Pacific and South China Sea by the end of September, seven of which made landfall in China.