Lekima response good, but more to do

Typhoon Lekima has wreaked havoc since making landfall in Zhejiang province on Saturday before traveling north and landing in Shandong province on Sunday evening. By Monday, the death toll from the strongest and the ninth storm of this year had risen to 45 with 16 people still missing, and the economic loss was estimated to be 18 billion yuan ($2.55 billion).

This has happened even after the National Meteorological Center issued the highest level red alert on Friday morning, warning residents of the coming threat from strong winds and heavy rainfall. Which points to the fact that despite the progress it has made in disaster reduction and prevention, the country remains vulnerable to severe weather-related disasters.

China has always been prone to natural disasters such as typhoons, floods and earthquakes mostly due to its vast geography and relatively low public awareness and safety standards. That is why the government has been working hard to better prepare the country for natural disasters - especially after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan province - introducing an early warning system, higher infrastructure standards and wider social safety networks.