President Xi Jinping issued an instruction on flood prevention and disaster relief work on Tuesday, ordering all-out search and rescue efforts to save those missing or trapped in floods and geological disasters caused by Typhoon Doksuri.
▲ Rescue workers in a boat paddle down a flooded Beijing street on Tuesday. Days of heavy rain, triggered by Typhoon Doksuri, have caused extensive damage in the capital and its surrounding regions. THOMAS PETER/REUTERS
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, also called for efforts to minimize casualties.
Due to Typhoon Doksuri, which caused extreme precipitation in northern China and areas along the Yellow and Huaihe rivers and other places, flooding and geological disasters were triggered and inflicted major casualties in areas such as Beijing and Hebei province.
He asked all areas to make every effort to search for and rescue missing or trapped people, ensure proper treatment of those injured and provide comfort to the families of the victims.
The affected individuals should be properly resettled, and damaged infrastructure such as for transportation, communication and electricity should be repaired as soon as possible in order to restore regular production and daily life, he said.
Xi emphasized that the nation is currently undergoing a critical period in flood control.
The president asked the authorities to reinforce monitoring, forecasting and early warning, enhance inspection duty, focus on critical parts and places for flood control, fully carry out flood control measures with precision, and make every effort to protect lives and property and secure social stability.
The instruction came as what is left of Typhoon Doksuri continued to dump rain on many parts of northern China on Tuesday, though the rain has been decreasing in its intensity.
▲ Villagers evacuated from Beijing's Changping district have lunch on Tuesday at temporary accommodations in the city's Shougang Industrial Park. WU XIAOHUI/CHINA DAILY
Continuous downpours have lashed Beijing since Saturday, leaving at least 11 dead and 13 missing, according to local flood control headquarters.
Six of the deceased are from the mountainous Mentougou and Fangshan districts, the worst-affected areas in Beijing, the headquarters said.
As of 6 am on Tuesday, Beijing recorded average precipitation of 257.9 millimeters. Mentougou and Fangshan received precipitation of about 470 mm and 415 mm, respectively, it said.
