BEIJING — China's National Cultural Heritage Administration has required enhanced efforts to protect cultural relics against floods as heavy rainfall has lashed large parts of southern China since June.

Related relics departments and institutions across the country should pay close attention to forecasts of weather and geological disasters and take effective measures to ensure the safety of cultural relics and personnel, according to a circular.

The administration also stressed building a reporting system and improving the capability of emergency handling to ensure minimal loss.

According to incomplete statistics, more than 130 unmovable cultural relics in 11 provinces in the southern part of China had suffered damage due to floods as of 4 pm on July 7.