2006 China's Hottest Year Since 1951 - AP

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BEIJING: China had a hot and disastrous year in 2006, with average temperatures the highest since 1951, state media reported Sunday.

Xinhua News Agency said temperatures were on average 1 degree higher than in normal years. Meteorological officials were quoted as saying there was less rain than normal, down 16 millimeters (half an inch) from an average year.

Dong Wenjie, director of the Beijing Climate Center, said the high temperatures were caused by global warming, while the annual meteorological report released by the China Meteorological Administration said 2006 had been a disastrous year for loss of life and property damage.

Typhoons, floods and droughts killed 2,704 people and caused economic losses of 212 billion yuan (US$27.2 billion; €20.65 billion) in 2006, second only to 1998 when an extremely severe flood swept the country, the report said.

EDIT

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/12/31/asia/AS_GEN_China_Weather.php