BEIJING, Dec. 17 -- The national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief on Sunday called for strengthening the inspection of subways, overpasses, underpasses and ice-prone roads to effectively prevent accidents amid cold weather.

More efforts should be made to strengthen monitoring, forecasting and the issuing of alerts, and to initiate emergency response in a timely manner, the commission said in a circular to local authorities.

The circular said it is necessary to reinforce the monitoring of power-grid operation, ensure energy security with increased production and supply, and pay close attention to the supply and prices of commodities that are important to livelihoods.