The country is facing the most severe natural disasters in six years, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said yesterday.

By August 15, natural disasters this year claimed the lives of 2,006 people, affected more than 316 million and caused losses of 160 billion yuan (US$20 billion).

More than 600 people are missing, nearly 13 million were evacuated and 36 million hectares of farmland have been affected by the disasters.

About 1.53 million houses collapsed and more than 4.1 million destroyed, according to the figures released by the National Centre for Disaster Reduction affiliated to the ministry.

"All the figures such as the affected population, death tolls and economic losses are above the average level during the same period each year since 2001," said Wang Zhenyao, director of the disaster relief centre.

Source: China Daily/Xinhua