CHRONOLOGY-2008: Disasters stalk China's Olympic year
(For related story see CHINA/FLOODS/ or [ID:nPEK133762])
June 18 (Reuters) - China's floods are the latest in a series of disasters and troubles that have beset the nation in its Olympic year. Here is a timeline.
* January-February 2008: The worst winter weather in 50 years sees ice and snow storms lash central and southern China, killing at least 129 people in six provinces. Cutting off power and water for millions, the cold also closed airports and paralysed trains and communications during China's peak travel period as millions headed for their hometowns for February 7's Spring Festival.
-- Damage is estimated at 151 billion yuan ($21 billion) in economic losses. Millions of hectares of crops are damaged, and more than 70 million animals are killed as temperatures plunge. Food prices soar, contributing to a surge in annual inflation to an 11-year high of 7.1 percent in January.
* March 10-30: Protests and riots spread from Lhasa, regional capital of Tibet, to other Tibetan communities in China's southwest, and in Nepal and India, after local monks mark the politically sensitive anniversary of the Dalai Lama's failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule. The unrest prompts arrests, a crackdown on dissent, and bitter criticism of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled Buddhist leader, within China.
* March 24-April 29: Protests against Chinese rule in Tibet dog the international leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay, which China had hoped would be a journey of harmony. Angry nationalists stage counter-protests along the torch relay's route, and call for boycotts by Chinese of French and other western products.
* May 12: A devestating 7.9 magnitude earthquake shatters parts of southwest China's mountainous southwestern Sichuan province. More than 69,000 people are killed and about five million left homeless, sparking a nationwide relief drive.
* June 8-onwards: Heavy rainfall causes flood chaos as annual summer storms hit nine provinces across south and eastern China. More than 1.66 million people are forced to flee their homes, at least 171 people are killed and 52 reported missing, as rivers burst their banks. About 9,000 square miles (2.32 million hectares) of crops and homes are submerged. Initial estimates of economic losses are put at 27.7 billion yuan ($4 billion).
Source: Reuters
(Writing by Gillian Murdoch, Beijing Editorial Reference Unit)
June 18 (Reuters) - China's floods are the latest in a series of disasters and troubles that have beset the nation in its Olympic year. Here is a timeline.
* January-February 2008: The worst winter weather in 50 years sees ice and snow storms lash central and southern China, killing at least 129 people in six provinces. Cutting off power and water for millions, the cold also closed airports and paralysed trains and communications during China's peak travel period as millions headed for their hometowns for February 7's Spring Festival.
-- Damage is estimated at 151 billion yuan ($21 billion) in economic losses. Millions of hectares of crops are damaged, and more than 70 million animals are killed as temperatures plunge. Food prices soar, contributing to a surge in annual inflation to an 11-year high of 7.1 percent in January.
* March 10-30: Protests and riots spread from Lhasa, regional capital of Tibet, to other Tibetan communities in China's southwest, and in Nepal and India, after local monks mark the politically sensitive anniversary of the Dalai Lama's failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule. The unrest prompts arrests, a crackdown on dissent, and bitter criticism of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled Buddhist leader, within China.
* March 24-April 29: Protests against Chinese rule in Tibet dog the international leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay, which China had hoped would be a journey of harmony. Angry nationalists stage counter-protests along the torch relay's route, and call for boycotts by Chinese of French and other western products.
* May 12: A devestating 7.9 magnitude earthquake shatters parts of southwest China's mountainous southwestern Sichuan province. More than 69,000 people are killed and about five million left homeless, sparking a nationwide relief drive.
* June 8-onwards: Heavy rainfall causes flood chaos as annual summer storms hit nine provinces across south and eastern China. More than 1.66 million people are forced to flee their homes, at least 171 people are killed and 52 reported missing, as rivers burst their banks. About 9,000 square miles (2.32 million hectares) of crops and homes are submerged. Initial estimates of economic losses are put at 27.7 billion yuan ($4 billion).
Source: Reuters
(Writing by Gillian Murdoch, Beijing Editorial Reference Unit)
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