The heavy rainfall in Beijing has triggered flooding, resulting in 30 deaths and the evacuation of 80,000 people. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has called for scientifically and precisely grasping the rhythm of flood discharge and water flow, making every effort to minimize disaster losses.
According to China News Service, on the instructions of CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping, Zhang Guoqing, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, led relevant officials on the evening of the 28th to Miyun District, Beijing, to visit and offer condolences to disaster-affected residents and to guide flood control and disaster relief work.
Zhang Guoqing said that all regions and relevant parties must make every possible effort to search for missing persons, carefully treat the injured, earnestly manage the aftermath of the deceased, and thoroughly arrange basic living needs for the disaster-affected people.
Zhang Guoqing stated that, as we are in a critical period for flood prevention, it is necessary to comprehensively consider uncertainties of inflow from upstream, reservoir safety, and downstream flood risks, and to grasp the pace of flood discharge and water flow scientifically and precisely, so as to minimize disaster losses as much as possible.
He said that it is essential to strengthen cross-departmental comprehensive assessment and cross-regional joint consultations in areas such as hydrology and meteorology, and to enhance collaborative flood prevention and disaster mitigation between Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. Attention must be paid to high-risk areas such as mountain flood outlets, foothills of steep slopes, river floodplains, and low-lying regions, as well as high-risk periods like nighttime heavy rainfall. Monitoring and early warning should be strengthened, emergency evacuation measures should be taken decisively in advance, and special attention must be given to vulnerable groups such as the elderly, infirm, sick, and disabled to ensure their safe transfer.
When closing roads or bridges in response to major risks, appropriate traffic control must be enforced to prevent casualties caused by reckless attempts to cross danger zones. It is necessary to implement stringent management measures for construction site safety during flood season, ensure emergency responses are prompt and responsibility is clear, and form a closed loop. The grassroots foundation for flood prevention and disaster mitigation must be solidified, and accountability and measures must be implemented to the smallest work unit.