World News Asia
A sequence of devastating earthquakes and a large number of weather-related catastrophes made 2011 the costliest year ever in terms of natural catastrophe losses.
Estimates of around US$380bn in global economic losses were nearly two-thirds higher than in 2005, the previous record year with losses of $220bn. The earthquakes in Japan in March and New Zealand in February alone caused almost two-thirds of these losses.
Insured losses of $105bn also exceeded the 2005 record of $101bn.
The environmental group said it analysed 25 samples of wastewater discharge from several industrial sites and found a "diverse range of hazardous chemicals," including heavy metals associated with causing brain damage.
"What is very disturbing is that, once released, it is almost impossible to remove these hazardous substances from the environment," said Kevin Brigden, a scientist at the group's research laboratories.
The river -- China's third-longest -- and its surrounding area will suffer irreversible damage if the government doesn't impose strict environmental regulations on the manufacturing heartland, Greenpeace said.
