Beijing steps up calls for disaster preparedness in southern China after dozens die amid severe rainfall
- Central government authorities tell emergency officials to ‘strengthen’ prevention measures after deadly highway collapse, and flooding
- Heavy rain expected to continue through weekend, as China sees holiday travel spike
With more downpours expected in the region, central government emergency agencies have asked local departments of the water resources, natural resources and transport ministries to “closely monitor the rain and flood developments” and “strictly” implement warning and response measures.
The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management met representatives of the relevant ministries on Thursday, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Tornado kills 5 in flood-hit southern Chinese city of Guangzhou
Similar emergency meetings have been held over the past two weeks.
Ministry officials were told on Thursday to “strengthen the prevention of flash floods and geological disasters, and decisively relocate threatened residents in advance”.
Local authorities were ordered to inspect underground interchanges, tunnels and low-lying areas and “strengthen inspection and protection” of anti-flood structures near rivers. Professional technicians and rescue forces were told to be prepared and ready to handle emergencies in a “timely and efficient” manner.
China’s ‘sinking’ coastal cities at risk of floods as sea levels rise: study
Parts of China, including Guangdong and neighbouring Hunan, are expected to experience heavy rain from Friday to Sunday, during one of the country’s major travel peaks, the Labour Day holiday.
Overall passenger volume surpassed 56 million on Wednesday, the first day of the holiday, representing a 150 per cent increase from last year, according to the Ministry of Transport.
More than 2 million people visited Guangdong on the same day, provincial paper Yangcheng Evening News reported.
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Tornado kills 5 in flood-hit southern Chinese mega city of Guangzhou
Guangdong, meanwhile, was bracing for more heavy downpours, the worst of which were expected to hit the northern part of the province.
The provincial cities of Zhaoxing, Qingyuan and Shaoguan were expected to receive more than 50mm (2 inches) of rainfall from Saturday morning to Sunday morning, with more than 100mm of precipitation possible in some areas, according to the provincial meteorological service.
Rain continues to batter China’s Guangdong province with more storms expected
As well as Guangdong and Hunan, torrential rain has swamped the nearby provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang, damaging crops, and agricultural and water resource facilities.
Central authorities on Wednesday announced about 310 million yuan (US$43 million) in emergency funding for repairs to water supply infrastructure, agricultural facilities and replanting work in seven affected provinces.
Last week, Beijing announced 50 million yuan in disaster relief for Guangdong province, 40 million yuan for Jiangxi province and 20 million yuan for Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
