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)