China urges emergency responses in flood season

The Ministry of Civil Affairs on Tuesday issued an urgent circular asking local authorities to strengthen disaster relief capacities in the flood season.

As rainstorms and floods have continued to ravage many areas of China, the population has suffered severe losses of life and property during the flood season.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs and the China National Commission for Disaster Reduction have initiated several emergency responses and dispatched relief teams to disaster-hit regions.

The circular required local authorities to send immediate relief materials including tents, cotton blankets and food and water when the emergency response grade has exceeded the warning level.

The circular also asked local meteorological, water conservancy and land and resources departments to work together and send immediate alerts to the public to make sure people can evacuate in time.