Premier calls for strong efforts to battle floods
Premier Li Qiang has called for "unswerving" efforts to control floods and protect lives as heavy rain lashed various parts of the country. He also spoke about the need to strengthen preparedness and step up disaster relief and rescue efforts when inspecting flood-prevention work in the city of Jiujiang in Jiangxi province. During a visit to a hydrological station, the premier highlighted the important role of forecasting and early warning in disaster prevention, urging efforts to strengthen interdepartmental joint consultation and improve the accuracy of forecasting. Meanwhile, local authorities in Anhui province said as of Tuesday afternoon, rainstorms had affected 991,000 residents and forced the evacuation of 242,000 people. Water levels of the Yangtze River in Anhui exceeded the warning mark and continued to rise. Showers or moderate rains are forecast to hit various parts of Anhui until 8pm on Wednesday, according to the provincial meteorological centre. (Reporting by Xinhua)