Natural disasters cost China billions

The cost of natural disasters is growing steadily in China as the government has forced to set aside more than ten billion yuan or 1.2 billion US dollars a year for relief measures, reported China Radio International on Tuesday.

Statistics show in 1990s, 370 million people suffered from natural disasters every year, and direct loss totaled 100 billion yuan; a 40 percent increase over the decade of the 80's.

Experts say that, though China has set up a system for the management of natural disasters, it still lags behind from providing adequate relief.