Natural Disasters - A Constant Challenge
China gets absolutely hammered by natural disasters - around 200 million people are affected every single year. We're talking earthquakes, floods, typhoons, droughts, and even sandstorms hitting this country regularly.
Being located on the Pacific Rim means China sits right in earthquake territory. The 1976 Tangshan earthquake killed over 200,000 people, whilst the 2008 Sichuan earthquake killed nearly 87,000 and left millions homeless. These aren't just statistics - they represent real families and communities.
Between 1985 and 2014, China faced 558 natural disasters including 216 floods, 235 storms, and 59 landslides. The country's massive size, different climate zones, and complex geography make it a perfect target for disasters.
Important Pattern: Southern coastal areas get hit by storms most often, whilst eastern provinces suffer more droughts and floods.