2013 Disasters in China Cost about $70B

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
HUMAN-ENHANCED NATURAL DISASTERS
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Natural disasters cost China about $70 billion in 2013

Droughts and deluge, earthquakes and typhoons cost China about $70 billion in 2013, nearly twice the total in 2012.

The National Statistics Bureau reported flooding and mudslides cost China about $32billion in 2013, an increase of nearly 11 percent on  previous year, said Reuters.

Damage from droughts nearly quadrupled to about $15billion, while storm surges, snowfall and freezes cost an additional $7 billion.

Seismic disasters, primarily the deadly Sichuan Earthquake, added more than $16 billion to the total.

[For a comprehensive listing of disasters in China search blog content.]

China is the world’s biggest energy-related CO2 emitter (23.6% in 2009), and 2nd biggest cumulative energy-related CO2 emitter during the 158-year period between 1850 and 2008, accounting for about 9.37 % of the total.

Top Ten cumulative energy-related CO2 emitters (1850 – 2008)
1. The United States (28.56 %)
2. China (9.37%)
3. Russia (7.98%)
4. Germany (6.77%)
5. United Kingdom (5.78%)
6. Japan (3.94%)
7. France (2.75%)
8. India (2.53%)
9. Canada (2.18%)
10. Ukraine (2.14%)

Seawater intrusion affecting 2 million people in Shanghai

Meanwhile, CNTV reported:

Seawater is causing problems for two million people in Shanghai. The city is enduring its longest-lasting salt tide in more than 20 years. As of this morning, the salt tide intrusion has already lasted for 21 days, the longest since 1993. Shanghai is located at the mouth of the Yangtze River.

The intrusion occurs periodically, especially in winter and spring when the Yangtze water level is relatively low. High salt levels in water is harmful to people’s health, machinery, and crops. Shanghai’s water authorities say the reservoir built in 1993 can only hold a ten-day water supply. They’ve established a comprehensive plan to coordinate the city’s waterworks and appealed to the national government for support.

Chen Guoguang, senior engineer of Water Supply Distribution & Monitoring Center, said, “Together with the previous two salt tides, the intrusion this time is causing huge harm to our water safety. The whole process isn’t expected to end until early next month.”

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – 21 April 2013

UPDATE [April 21, 2013 @ 07:00UTC] :  More than 200 dead or missing up to 12,000 injured.

China Quake official death toll climbs to 179, many thousands injured

Search and recovery teams continued to dig bodies out of rubble Sunday as the official death toll from Saturday’s devastating earthquake climbed to 179 with as many as 7,000 people injured and tens of thousands of people made homeless in SW China’s Sichuan Province.

• “In Baoxing, a county isolated by the 7.0-magnitude quake, 26 people were confirmed dead and about 2,500 were injured, county head Ma Jun told Xinhua.

• “He said the quake damaged almost every home in Baoxing, with a population of 58,000, including newly-built homes after the devastating quake of 2008.”

• The Longmen township located close to the quake epicenter has been almost entirely leveled.

• Most of the deaths were concentrated in Lushan; however, more than 90 survivors were pulled out of rubble in the county.

Rescuers head for Baosheng Township in the quake-hit Lushan County, Ya’an City, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, April 20, 2013. Roads connected to townships like Baosheng and Taiping in Lushan were damaged or blocked by landslides due to a 7.0-magnitude earthquake which occurred on Saturday.(Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing). More images…

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Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

US Flood Update
“The recent torrent of rainfall in the Midwest has sent river levels rising across the region. Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan have been hardest hit states. Some river levels will approach and even break records. Numerous flood warnings are in effect [across parts of at least 16 states.]” —NWS

• Thousands of homes have been flooded in the Midwest.
• More than 2,000 people have been evacuated from Illinois towns of Marseilles and London Mills.
• The raging Des Plaines River has inundated the town of Forest View, flooding 90 percent of the community and prompting a massive evacuation of at least 700 people [families?]
• Plaza Towers hotel and apartments in Grand Rapids has been evacuated due to flooding of the Grand River.
• A mandatory flood evacuation order has been issued for the residents of  Spring Bay and portions of Creve Coeur, Illinois.

April 2013 Record River Crests

Preliminary record crests for rivers that have crested in northern Illinois. Source: NWS, Chicago

Latest Disaster and Emergency Declarations

• Iowa Gov. Bransted has issued a disaster declaration for five eastern counties:  Cedar, Johnson, Mahaska, Scott and Washington.

• Illinois Gov. Quinn has declared 38 counties disaster areas.
  • “Illinois has seen an incredible level of devastation and reports indicate that conditions will get worse in the coming days. ” Quinn said.

• Governor Nixon has declared a state of emergency in response to heavy rain and flash flooding in much of the state

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SoCal fire forces mass evacuation in Monrovia

“Residents of about 200 homes in Monrovia have been forced to evacuate after a brush fire erupted in the San Gabriel Mountain foothills east of Los Angeles,” said a report.

The blaze has scorched more than 170 acres and was 10 percent contained, as of posting. 

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events – 20 April 2013

UPDATE 6: Powerful Earthquake Kills up to 200, injures many thousands in China

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Lushan county  of Ya’an city in southwest China’s Sichuan Province at 8:02 a.m. Saturday  Beijing Time [00:02 UTC,] killing about 200 people and injuring  many thousands more.

• The shallow quake occurred at a depth of 13km [centered at 30.284°N, 102.956°E, according to USGS] said the provincial seismological bureau.
• For more details go to  Deadly Earthquake Hits SW China’s Sichuan Province

Displaced residents rest next to ruins of houses after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Longmen Township, Lushan County, Ya’an City of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, April 20, 2013. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoli). More images …

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OTHER GLOBAL DISASTERS/ SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Missouri declares a state of emergency after rainstorm triggers worst flooding in century

Governor Nixon has declared a state of emergency in response to heavy rain and flash flooding in much of the state.

Many portions of NE Missouri received up to 5 inches of rain this week, causing streams and rivers to rise above flood stage, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported.

Several Missouri counties have independently declared states of  emergency issuing mandatory evacuation orders for hundreds of residents.

• Kent County declares a state of emergency after worst flooding in more than a century hit the area

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Indiana Pounded by Extreme Rain Events, Counties Declare States of Emergency

Several counties in Indiana, including Boone and Tipton counties, north of Indianapolis, has declared states of emergency since Friday.

• NWS issued a flash flood warning for much of Indiana after most of the state received up to 5 inches of rain.

• Emergency workers have rescued dozens of people from flooded homes using boats.

• “Numerous homes are underwater or flooded, stranding homeowners and their families,” said Boone County Sheriff’s Department.

• Flooding reported along dozens of rivers across the Midwest.

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Latest Disaster Declarations

• Iowa Gov. Bransted has issued a disaster declaration for five eastern counties:  Cedar, Johnson, Mahaska, Scott and Washington.

• Illinois Gov. Quinn has declared 38 counties disaster areas.
  • “Illinois has seen an incredible level of devastation and reports indicate that conditions will get worse in the coming days. ” Quinn said.

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Lee County in Iowa Declares a State of Emergency amid Flooding

Lee County, Iowa, has declared a state of emergency due to recent heavy rains that have caused the Mississippi, Des Moines and Skunk rivers to begin rising and the expected flooding that will cause severe damage to public and private property, critical infrastructure, disruption of utility service, including but not limited to power generation, water and waste-water, and endangerment of health and safety of the citizens of Lee County within the disaster area.” The Lee County Board of Supervisors have declared.

• The Mississippi River’s level at Keokuk rose to 21.06 feet on Friday, more than 5 feet above the flood stage, and is expected to crest at 22.8 feet on Saturday, said a report.

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Canada: Ontario Towns Declare States of Emergency

The towns of Bracebridge and Huntsville in Central Ontario, Canada have declared states of emergency, said a report.

• Heavy rain in Bracebridge has damaged infrastructure and evacuations in low lying areas could follow, the report said.

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China confirms 96 cases of H7N9 infections, 18 fatalities

Chinese health officials confirmed 5 new cases of human H7N9 avian influenza—one in Shanghai, one in Jiangsu and three in Zhejiang—raising the total number of reported cases to 96, with 18 fatalities, Xinhua reported.

• “A total of 33 cases, including 11 that have ended in death, have been reported in Shanghai. Twenty-three cases, including three deaths, have been reported in Jiangsu Province, and 33 cases, including three deaths, in Zhejiang Province. Anhui Province has reported three cases, with one ending in death. Beijing has reported one case and three have been reported in Henan Province,” said the report.

• At least 69 of the patients are receiving treatment in designated hospitals.

Deadly Earthquake Hits SW China’s Sichuan Province

UPDATE 5 [12:00 UTC] – 124 confirmed dead, 2,700 injured (350 severely), unknown number trapped

– UPDATE 4 [09:00 UTC] – 104 confirmed dead, 2,500+ injured (150 seriously), unknown number trapped, 32 survivors out of rubble

A military vehicle carrying 17 soldiers to the quake-hit area in  Sichuan plunged 20 meters off a cliff on Saturday, killing at least one soldier and injuring 7 others, a report quoting military sources said.

– UPDATE 3 [08:00 UTC] – 78 confirmed dead, 2,200 injured, unknown number trapped

– UPDATE 2 [05:00 UTC] – 46 confirmed dead, 600 injured, unknown number trapped

– UPDATE 1 [04:00UTC] – Sichuan quake kills at least 80, injures about 500, unknown number trapped

Powerful Earthquake Kills at least 5, injures more than 100 in China

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Lushan county  of Ya’an city in southwest China’s Sichuan Province at 8:02 a.m. Saturday  Beijing Time [00:02 UTC,] the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) reported.

• The shallow quake occurred at a depth of 13km [centered at 30.284°N, 102.956°E, according to USGS] said the provincial seismological bureau.

• The quake has killed at least 5 people and left more than 100 injured, reported the government of Lushan county, as of posting.

• The quake was strongly felt  in Sichuan’s capital city of Chengdu,  about 140 kilometers from Ya’an, reportedly for as long as 20 seconds.

• The quake was also felt in provinces of Guizhou, Gansu, Shaanxi and Yunnan, the report said.

The quake, registered as a 6.6Mw shock by USGS/EHP, was followed by several significant aftershocks.

An aerial photo of some of the damage caused by the earthquake in Lushan county, Ya’an, Sichuan province, SW China April 20, 2013. (Credit: China Daily via Reuters).

EQ Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP. Map enhanced by FIRE-EARTH

• Earthquake Shaking Alert Level: RED

“Red alert level for economic losses. Extensive damage is probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of China. Past events with this alert level have required a national or international level response. Orange alert level for shaking-related fatalities. Significant casualties are likely.”  —USGS/EHP

The epicenter was close to that of the massive quake [2008 Sichuan earthquake, 31.021°N,103.367°E] that killed 70,000 people [figure quoted by Chinese government,] and left more than 5 million people homeless.

Sichuan is one of China’s four major natural-gas-producing provinces, and accounts for 14 percent of the country’s total output, said a report.

Related Links

• Another Deadly Earthquake Cluster Hits China Posted on August 31, 2008
• China Quake 1st Anniversary Posted on May 12, 2009

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DISASTER CALENDAR – April 20, 2013 — 
SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,057 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,057 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
• The countdown began on May 15, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID PLANETARY DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs