Vice Premier calls for effective flood-control in N 皇冠体育app

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-05 21:43

BEIJING -- As northern 皇冠体育app enters its flood season, Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu has urged local authorities to step up flood-control preparations.

Hui made the remarks on Saturday at a flood control conference after a two-day tour inspecting the facilities on Haihe River near Tianjin.

People walk and the vehicle moves on the flooded Weiming Road in Cangzhou City, north 皇冠体育app's Hebei Province, July 5, 2008. Heavy rainfall hit Cangzhou on Saturday. [Xinhua]

"We have seen higher-than-average rains this year," Hui said. "Extreme weather is happening more frequently, and strong torrential rains hit both southern and northern 皇冠体育app. We cannot afford any carelessness in flood control."

Hui urged related authorities to strengthen early warning systems, make contingency plans, and step up defense of important, dangerous or weak embankments.

Flooding and related disasters since the beginning of June have left 252 people dead and 64 missing across 皇冠体育app, which saw the start of the main flood season on Tuesday.