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BEIJING, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The rising sea level has triggered a series of disasters in China in the past three years, says a report released by the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) here Friday.

The report says that the sea level on China's coast rose by 2.5 millimeters per year on average from 2003 to 2006, faster than the global average of 1.8 millimeters each year.

The rising sea level creates storm tides, coastal erosion and salt tides, which endanger people's lives and property and impact economic and social development.

According to the report, storm tides are becoming more frequent and more extreme in coastal areas. Eastern and southern areas like Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong had to cope with 17 storm tides and typhoons in 2006.

Salt tides have invaded more areas, the report says. In 2004, south China's Guangdong Province fought with salt tides for seven months, the worst situation in 20 years. The quality of local people's drinking water was severely impacted.

The report says China's coast is being eroded. Around 300 kilometers of coastline have been eroded in south China's Hainan province.

The report suggests local governments in coastal areas draw up specific policies to cope with further rise in the sea level, monitor the coastline regularly, and launch projects to repair coastline eco-systems.

Statistics shows that China's four major seas -- the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea -- rose 2.2 millimeters, 2.5 millimeters, 3.1 millimeters and 2.4 millimeters per year from 2003 through 2006.

The report estimates that the sea level will rise by a further nine to 31 millimeters in the next three to ten years.

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