Society

Vice Premier visits flood-hit eastern regions

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-19 19:13

BEIJING - Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Sunday went to the flood-hit provinces of Zhejiang and Anhui to promote flood control and disaster relief efforts.

During the visit, Hui is also to extend greetings to soldiers, civilians and officials who have been working in the flood-fighting front lines.

The visit of Hui, who heads the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, came as frequent rainstorms have battered the country's southern regions, causing water levels to exceed warning marks in Taihu Lake and over 100 small and medium-sized rivers.

The strong rainfall also has driven water levels above safety lines in the middle and upper reaches of Qiantang River and the Puyang River, its branch in southeastern Zhejiang Province, as well as the Shuiyang River in Anhui Province, which has led to severe floods in parts of the two provinces.