The disasters included drought, earthquakes, floods, forest fires, gales and hail, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today, citing a Ministry of Civil Affairs statement released yesterday.
They caused about 3.6 billion yuan (about USD 550 million) in direct economic losses, it said.
More than 53,000 people had to be relocated, 28,000 of whom needed emergency assistance, while about 6,000 houses collapsed, mostly in southern regions hit by floods, the report said.
Overall damage was generally less than in the same period last year, during which 68 people were killed.
PTI