China braces for natural disaster season

BEIJING - The National Commission for Disaster Reduction on Wednesday urged beefed-up efforts of prevention and response as the season arrives when China is susceptible to natural disasters.

According to a commission circular, relevant departments and localities need to step up monitoring and early warning for possible disasters, and closely follow developments of disasters.

They are also required to enhance analysis and forecasts of rainfall and floods, in order to issue early warnings.

The statement also stressed that relentless efforts should be made to scan all hidden hazards which may cause damage following floods, landslides and hurricanes.

Efforts should also be made to examine the safety of structures in disaster-prone areas, particularly buildings of schools, care homes, clinics, scenic spots and construction sites, among other densely-populated areas, so that no casualties occur as a result of negligence of work.

Departments and localities are also ordered to put forward emergency response plans, to evacuate disaster-threatened people and to distribute disaster-relief materials.

Several natural disasters have hit China recently. Flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rain affected northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and rainfall battered south and east China.