Natural disasters left 123 people dead, 15 missing and affected more than 20 million people across China in May, according to government statistics.

The disasters caused about 21.7 billion yuan (about 3.5 billion US dollars) in direct economic losses. More than 518,000 residents were relocated and over 354,000 needed emergency assistance, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on Tuesday.

Some 293,000 houses were damaged and 27,000 collapsed, it added.

The natural disasters included rainstorms, floods, hail and drought.

The ministry said more than 70 percent of the economic damage in the month was caused by flooding.