Xi demands all-out efforts to help flood victims

A half-submerged building is seen along the swollen Heilong River in Tongjiang City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 19, 2013. The Heilongjiang Provincial Hydrological Bureau forecast the stretch of the Heilong River between Tongjiang and Fuyuan County will witness the largest flooding in its history. Authorities in Tongjiang have started a Grade I response preparing for floods. (Xinhua/Wang Kai)

Chinese President Xi Jinping has demanded all-out efforts in putting people's lives first as the country's northeast combats the worst floods in more than a decade.

Xi asked local authorities and armed forces to guard against risks and save people's lives.

Since Aug. 14, persistent downpours have caused the worst floods since 1998 in Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, also the heartland of China's grain production.

By 4 p.m. Monday, 85 people were confirmed dead and 105 were missing. Some 3.74 million people have been affected, with direct economic losses totaling 16.14 billion yuan (2.6 billion US dollars).

Although the floods have passed their peak, the outlook remains grim for autumn.

Premier Li Keqiang has also urged local authorities to relocate people and help them during the post-flood reconstruction.

Official data showed floods have forced the relocation of 360,000 people, toppled more than 60,000 houses and affected 787,200 million hectares of farmland.

Floods, typhoon leave 105 dead, 115 missing in China

A total of 105 people died and another 115 are missing after floods ravaged northeast China and a typhoon lashed southern regions, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Monday.