BEIJING — China has made efforts in preparing for flood control and disaster relief to protect people's lives and property during the flood season.

As of June 6, the average precipitation across the country in the flood season which began on April 1 stood at 133.6 mm, rising 2.9 percent from the average figure for the same period in normal years, according to the office of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management.

From April 1 to June 6, 122 rivers in 16 provincial-level regions saw floods above alert levels, up 30 percent from normal years. At present, most of the major rivers in the southern part of the country have high water levels, data from the water conservancy authorities showed.

China has taken a slew of flood control and disaster relief measures to ensure people's safety and minimize losses.

By June 6, the number of people affected by floods had fallen 28 percent from the average number for the same period in the past five years, while direct economic losses were down 39.7 percent.

China's flood control and relief authorities have sent work groups to inspect and guide the preparation work for flood control, urged local authorities to carry out emergency drills, organized flood and drought control training exercises, tested equipment and deployed flood prevention forces in advance.

Closely monitoring precipitation and water levels, they have also made targeted arrangements for flood control. Since May, the authorities have guided work related to the prevention of mountain torrents and flood control in small and medium-sized rivers, in response to the high water levels in some rivers in the southern part of the country.

Moving forward, authorities will stick to the principle of putting people's lives first, and provide support in the form of capital, materials and technology to assist local flood control and disaster relief work.