BEIJING, Feb. 28 -- Marine disasters, including storm surges, led to 24 deaths in 2014, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said in a report Saturday.
The death toll marked a sharp decline from the previous year when a total of 121 people were reported dead or missing.
Direct economic losses caused by marine disasters also contracted in 2014.
The losses amounted to 13.61 billion yuan (2.16 billion U.S. dollars),compared with 16.35 billion yuan in 2013, according to the annual report of the SOA.
Most of the losses were incurred in nine storm surges along coastal areas during the year, according to the report.
PLA soldiers operating vehicle-mounted guns in drill
Beauties dancing on the rings
Blind carpenter in E China's Jiangxi
Top 10 highest-paid sports teams in the world
In photos: China's WZ-10 armed helicopters
UFO spotted in several places in China
Certificates of land title of Qing Dynasty and Republic of China 
Cute young Taoist priest in Beijing
New film brings Doraemon's life story to China in 3D
Obama is sowing discontent in S.China Sea
Rescuers work through night to reach cruise ship survivors
Driving through limbo
Facing down MERSDay|Week
