Aug 27, 06:30 AM

China Puts Road Damage From Summer Floods at $2.2 Billion

China’s Ministry of Transport said extreme rainfall since the start of the flood season on July 1 has caused more than 16 billion yuan (about $2.24 billion) in damage to roads across 23 provinces, regions and municipalities—over two-thirds of the country’s administrative divisions. The tally underscores how intensifying climate risks are compounding fiscal pressures on an economy already struggling with weak growth and heavily indebted local governments. Beijing has so far set aside 540 million yuan in emergency subsidies for road repairs, according to the transport and finance ministries. The allocation forms part of 5.8 billion yuan in disaster-relief funding released since April, the Ministry of Emergency Management said. In July alone, floods, landslides, earthquakes and drought inflicted direct economic losses estimated at 52.2 billion yuan. The latest damage comes as authorities continue to pour money into the broader transport network. Fixed-asset investment in the sector reached 1.95 trillion yuan in the first seven months of 2025, including 306.1 billion yuan in July, official data show. Analysts say the new storm-related spending will add to the strain on local finances even as Beijing relies on infrastructure outlays to support growth.

#China #Ministry of Transport #Beijing #Ministry of Emergency Management

Written with ChatGPT .