Marine disasters resulted in direct economic losses of 10.023 billion yuan (US$1.47 billion) in China in 2009, the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said in a report released Wednesday.

The figure was less than the annual average number since 1989, the report said.

The report showed that the disasters, including storm surge, sea ice, sea wave, red tide and others, left 95 people dead or missing last year, also less than the annual average number since the year of 1989.

The southern Guangdong Province was the most hit area by the marine disasters which caused direct economic losses of 4 billion yuan and left 23 people dead or missing.

Storm surge causes the biggest damage to China's coastal area. A total of 32 storm surges were reported last year, leading to 8.5 billion yuan in losses and leaving 57 people dead and missing, the report said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2010)