Premier Li Keqiang directed State Council departments and local authorities to spare no efforts in the battle against flood and drought.

He make the remarks in an instruction to a national conference on preventing and controlling flood and drought, held in Nanchang, East China’s Jiangxi province on June 21.

The situation is tough as the flood season has come, and related departments should do their best as people’s lives and property, as well as broader economic and social development, are involved, he said.

The Premier asked central and local flood control and drought relief headquarters to strengthen research, inspection and alarm work, cope with challenges from dangerous reservoirs, mountain torrents and urban water logging, and relocate residents living in dangerous areas and conduct rescue operations in a timely manner.

State Councilor Wang Yong, also head of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, attended the conference and called for the screening of all kinds of hidden risks, along with precautions to minimize losses.

He also inspected flood control and disaster relief work in Anhui and Jiangxi provinces from June 19 to 21, where he asked different departments to join hands in fighting against floods, while strengthening monitoring and early warning efforts.