Natural disasters damage 364,400 hectares of crops in China in October

Flooding and geological disasters damaged 364,400 hectares of crops in China in October, as an unseasonably rainy month - with 52% more precipitation than the historical average - hindered a key harvest season, especially in the north and west.

Farmland affected by the wet weather accounted for nearly 80% of all agricultural lands damaged by natural disasters in October, according to a monthly report released by China's emergency management ministry on Tuesday.

All natural disasters left 24.9 billion yuan ($3.50 billion) in direct economic loss, 9 deaths and over 7 million people affected in the country in October, the report showed.

Reuters