Premier Li Qiang emphasized the need for maximum efforts in flood control and disaster relief to safeguard lives and property, as China enters the most critical stage of this year’s flood season.
During his visit to Chenzhou, Hunan province, which has been hit by severe flooding and geological disasters due to heavy rainfall, Li inspected flood prevention measures and met with affected residents.
As of Thursday noon, 30 people had died and 35 were missing in Zixing, a city under Chenzhou’s jurisdiction, following extreme weather from Typhoon Gaemi starting on July 26.
Li urged exhaustive search and rescue operations, stressing that all possible efforts should be made. He also called for the restoration of essential infrastructure such as roads and power supply, and vigilance against secondary disasters.
At a relocation center, he inquired about the living conditions of displaced residents and encouraged them to work together to rebuild their homes. He stressed the importance of concentrating resources to help disaster-hit areas quickly return to normalcy.
Li conducted an on-site meeting with local and central government officials, emphasizing that flood control efforts are at a critical juncture with risks of embankment breaches and waterlogging ahead.
He called for coordinated prevention and rescue efforts, disaster risk reduction, and minimizing losses, prioritizing the safety of people’s lives through enhanced monitoring, early warnings, and emergency responses, including timely evacuations from high-risk areas.
Li highlighted the need for strengthened patrolling, risk management, rescue operations, and scientific flood control project management.
The Ministry of Finance reported that China has allocated 11.5 billion yuan ($1.59 billion) for disaster relief this year as of Wednesday.
Zixing’s flood and drought prevention headquarters announced the resumption of communication and road access in the eight hardest-hit townships, ongoing search and rescue efforts, and the continued hope of finding missing individuals.
Heavy rainfall has impacted 1.15 million people in Hunan since July 26, necessitating the evacuation of 95,000 people, according to local authorities on Wednesday.
Zhou Sha from China Construction Fifth Engineering Division Corp noted that zigzagging mountain roads have complicated rescue efforts. The State-owned enterprise has deployed over 30 personnel to repair more than 40 sections of road affected by mudslides and to clear roads leading to four villages.
“Our team is dedicated to contributing our expertise in search and rescue operations, fulfilling our duty in these critical times,” she added.
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