China tells regional officials to ready for disasters after months of torrential rai

The floods have submerged farmland, interrupted power and communications, affected roads and destroyed homes

Chinese regional officials need to prepare for potential disasters and ensure relief in a timely manner as the flood season reaches a critical period, a government official warned on Friday after months of torrential rains nationwide, Qazet.az reports.

China routinely faces heavy flooding during its summer, but record-breaking rain in some regions this year has highlighted the challenges it faces as it tries to adapt to climate change, with temperatures also reaching fresh highs.

Zhou Xuewen, vice minister at China's Ministry of Emergency Management, told a briefing that as the "critical period" starting in mid-July approaches, officials at all levels needed to "grasp the potential risks".

Since the flood season began in March, average rainfall across the country is 10.7% higher than normal, and has doubled in some parts of the south. Rain in the Pearl River basin in the southeastern province of Guangdong is at its highest on record.

Zhou said as many as 487 rivers have exceeded their flood warning levels this year, while more than 1.2 million people have been evacuated, with direct economic losses hitting nearly $9.70 billion so far.