Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Thursday urged government
departments to stay on high alert and maintain their efforts in
flood control and disaster relief.
Hui made the remarks during an inspection tour to south China's
Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
As the flood season takes hold around China, governments at all
levels must improve their flood control efforts by mending
deficiencies in previous work, Hui said.
Hui, who heads the State Flood Control and Drought Relief
Headquarters, visited several flood-hit villages, counties and
cities, and called for continuous efforts in flood control,
settlement of affected people and rebuilding of destroyed
houses.
Hui asked governments at all levels to take effective measures
to prevent future disasters and ensure that people are safe from
major rivers and reservoirs during the flood season.
Tropical storm Bilis hit China last Friday and triggered heavy
rainfall and serious floods in Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi. More than 1.7
million residents were evacuated last weekend, according to the
Ministry of Civil Affairs.
(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2006)