Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua called for unremitting efforts in flood prevention and disaster relief this year during a meeting on flood control held in Wuhan, Hubei province.

Hu, also the general commander of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, inspected the dam projects along Yangtze River, Yellow River and Huaihe River in Henan, Anhui and Hubei provinces from May 20 to 22. These big rivers have always been the priorities of China’s flood control efforts.

This year the country is faced with complicated and severe situations, Hu said. All involved parties should closely monitor the weather and flood situations, enhance management of flood-control projects and floodwater detention basins, strengthen safety inspection, improve flood control and drainage projects in the cities, and respond swiftly to floods and droughts.

To ensure people’s safety is always put first, coordination is also needed between nation-level and local flood-control authorities, military and civilian, the vice-premier added.