Those undertaking key embankment projects must adopt a lifelong responsibility for their quality and the government should seriously investigate any problems discovered, stressed Premier Li Keqiang at a State Council executive meeting on July 7.

He urged local governments and departments at all levels to remain alert for all flood dangers, prepare for the heavy flood rescue work and never overlook or relax on flood-prevention work.

Just a day before the meeting, the Premier was still in Wuhan, Hubei province, amid torrential rain, to direct the rescue and relief work in the city’s Qingshan district, where the Yangtze River bank was overflowing as a result of continuous heavy rain in the region.

The Premier rushed to Wuhan on the morning of July 6, after holding a meeting on flood control the previous night. Before that, he inspected flood control work in Yueyang, Hunan province, and Anhui province.

“The leaking point is only 400 meters from the main structure of the Yangtze River embankment, and the central area of Wuhan city is just behind it. If floodwaters are to breach the embankments, the impact will be unbearable,” the Premier told the executive meeting.

The Premier urged officials at all levels to attach great importance to flood prevention work.

He clearly requested all-day inspection of key flood-prevention projects, such as the main embankments along the Yangtze River, to prevent floods before they happen.

This year, the rainy season arrived earlier with heavy rainfall, and parts of the regions in China have been bombarded with the biggest flood pressure since 1998, when unprecedented deluges appeared. This year’s complicated El Nino weather pattern also brought difficulties for weather forecasters, the Premier said.

Officials who fail to perform their duties and cause major losses or injuries should be held accountable, Premier Li emphasized at the meeting.