State Councilor Wang Yong called for efforts to enhance monitoring and the early warning system, and strengthen weak links to ensure the Haihe River Basin gets through flood season safely.

Wang, also head of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, made the remarks when he inspected and guided flood control work in North China’s Hebei province on July 24.

Noting that northern areas are seeing increasingly growing risks of severe flood disasters with the arrival of the main flood season, he urged related departments to carefully strengthen measures for flood prevention and control and disaster relief as northern areas have not experienced major floods for many years.

Authorities across regions should firmly carry out decisions made by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council by stepping up leadership and coordination, and fulfilling respective responsibilities at various levels in the whole process, he said.

People’s risk awareness should be fostered, with early warning information issued at the earliest time and residents transferred to safety in a timely way, Wang added.

Also, the flood control coordination mechanism for the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region should be improved, and the joint prevention system for Xiongan New Area be strengthened to safeguard lives and property.