Landslides, floods, strong rainstorms and tornadoes have led to multiple deaths across China, with people still missing as meteorologists warn the country faces “complex” disaster prevention challenges this year.
The annual flood season, which officially began on July 1, will be affected by global warming and El Nino, they said.
President Xi Jinping has instructed that “all-out efforts” must be made for emergency rescue and relief, medical treatment should be provided to the injured and residents affected should be properly resettled, state broadcaster CCTV said.
“All local governments should tighten accountability for disaster prevention and relief, thoroughly check rivers, lakes, reservoirs and other regions prone to geological disasters, strengthen early warning, prevention and relief work and ensure safety to people’s lives and property,” he said.
As of Tuesday afternoon, heavy rainfall has caused 62 rivers across the country to rise above flood warning levels, central authorities said, with the Qingshui River in Guangxi recording the biggest flood in its monitoring history.
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At least 8 people dead after thunderstorms battered cities in central China
