Oceanic disasters left 492 persons dead or missing and caused
direct economic losses of 21.8 billion yuan (around US$2.8 billion)
in China last year, says a report released Friday by the State
Oceanic Administration (SOA).
The report says China experienced 179 oceanic disasters last
year, including storm tides, huge waves, severe sea ice and red
tides.
Economic losses were down by 11.4 billion yuan (around US$1.5
billion) from the previous year, but the death toll rose by
121.
(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2007)