Significant Decline in Major Accidents and Fatalities in China in 2024

According to the Ministry of Emergency Management, there was a remarkable reduction in major accidents and related fatalities in China in 2024, showing a decline of almost 50 percent compared to the previous year. The ministry’s spokeswoman, Shen Zhanli, highlighted that there were nine major accidents in the previous year, leading to 146 deaths, representing decreases of 43.8 percent in accidents and 49.8 percent in fatalities.

In addition to the significant drop in major incidents, Shen noted that the overall count of various types of accidents also fell last year. The data indicated that there were 21,800 production safety accidents throughout the year, which resulted in 19,600 deaths, showcasing declines of 11 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively. Notably, there were no major accidents reported in seven crucial industries, such as chemicals and air transport, indicating a stable safety environment.

The report also covered natural disasters in 2024, revealing that floods, typhoons, low temperatures, and snow were the primary disasters affecting the nation. Shen detailed that around 94.13 million individuals were impacted by these disasters, with 856 reported as dead or missing, alongside direct economic damages totaling approximately 401.1 billion yuan (around $54.7 billion). She attributed the frequent floods and geological disasters to above-average precipitation levels throughout the year, which resulted in prolonged rainfall and affected areas.

Additionally, the year witnessed a higher-than-usual occurrence of typhoons, with Typhoon Yagi being noted as the most powerful typhoon to land in China during the autumn season since the start of meteorological record-keeping. Finally, it was mentioned that the situation regarding forest and grassland fire prevention remained stable, with the occurrence of fires reaching historically low levels.