The International Charter Space and Major Disasters was activated on 12 May 2012 by the China National Committee for Disaster Reduction for major floods in Gansu Province. Hail and torrential rain, on 11th May, have caused flooding in Minxian County, Gansu Province. The storms have affected towns and villages, leading to widespread evacuations and destruction of homes and the loss of crops. The disaster has affected an estimated 404,900 people. As of the 11th May the death toll was recorded as 25, with 33 people missing. Approximately 29,300 people were evacuated. The most seriously affected areas are Chabu town, Puma town, and Lvjing town in Minxian county. Over 23,000 hectares of crops have been affected by the floods and hail, with more than 2,300 hectares of arable land destroyed. 212 national highways are damaged, and some are destroyed. 28,000 houses have suffered damage or been destroyed.
Additionally, Digital Globe Firstlook, an online service to provide fast web-based access to pre- and post-event imagery, was tasked for the area affected.
