BEIJING/NANCHANG/HEFEI - Chinese Premier Li Qiang has stressed remaining alert to risks, strengthening preparedness and working unswervingly on flood control, disaster relief and rescue work to ensure the safety of people's lives and property, as well as overall social stability.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when inspecting flood-prevention and control work in the city of Jiujiang, Jiangxi province, from Monday to Tuesday.

When visiting a hydrologic station at the confluence of the Yangtze River, China's longest river, and Poyang Lake, the country's largest freshwater lake, Li highlighted the important role of forecasting and early warning in disaster prevention, urging efforts to strengthen interdepartmental joint consultation and improve the accuracy of forecasting.

At a geological disaster site in Bailu Town, in the city of Lushan, Li urged prioritizing disaster prevention in a period when landslides and debris flows occur frequently, and evacuating residents in areas prone to disasters promptly once dangers have been detected

Since mid-June, heavy rains have persisted in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, leading to the continuous rise of water levels and flooding.

Water levels have exceeded warning marks in sections of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River located below an estuary of Dongting Lake, according to the Ministry of Water Resources on Tuesday.

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Li was also briefed on the work on Yangtze River levee reinforcement and checked the storage of flood-control materials. When communicating with local emergency-response staff, he underlined the need to enhance the inspection and protection of embankments during harsh weather conditions and stockpile adequate materials.

At a geological disaster site in Bailu town, in the city of Lushan, Li urged prioritizing disaster prevention in a period when landslides and debris flows occur frequently, and evacuating residents in areas prone to disasters promptly once dangers have been detected.

Li also presided over a meeting on flood control in the town of Bailu. Noting the frequent occurrence of extreme weather conditions this year, Li called for efforts to strictly prevent secondary disasters caused by heavy rainfall, investigate weak links in urban flood-control and drainage systems, and strengthen flood prevention on farmland.

He urged giving full play to the role of water-conservancy projects in flood-control work, preparing adequate precautionary measures for extreme situations, and carrying out rescue work immediately in the event of disasters.

Emergency response level upgraded in Hunan

On Tuesday, Chinese authorities upgraded the emergency response to disasters triggered by recent severe rainfall and flooding in Central China's Hunan province to Level III.

The China National Commission for Disaster Reduction has dispatched a team to guide and assist local governments with disaster relief work and rescue efforts, aiming to ensure the basic needs of affected residents.

Flooding wreaked havoc in Pingjiang county and Miluo in the city of Yueyang, leading to some inundated residential quarters, landslides, disrupted roads and bridges, house collapses, overflowing floodwaters and dikes in danger, according to the Yueyang flood-control and drought-relief headquarters

Flooding wreaked havoc in Pingjiang county and Miluo in the city of Yueyang, leading to some inundated residential quarters, landslides, disrupted roads and bridges, house collapses, overflowing floodwaters and dikes in danger, according to the Yueyang flood-control and drought-relief headquarters.

In response to the disasters, China's Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) has dispatched two unmanned aerial vehicles to enhance emergency communication support. More than 560 rescue workers have participated in related flood control and relief efforts.

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MEM has urged increased attention to geological disasters, the advance relocation of residents of hazardous areas, the prompt restoration of affected flood-prevention facilities and telecommunication infrastructure, and accelerated reconstruction work.

The precipitation in Pingjiang county reached 759.6 mm from June 18 to July 1, the largest since meteorological records began in 1961.

The Pingjiang hydrological station of Miluo River saw its water level rise rapidly by 9.5 meters within 48 hours. The station experienced the flood crest at midnight on Monday, with the water level 3.67 meters above the guaranteed level, the highest level in 70 years.

The water level in Miluo River started to recede on Tuesday, with the water level at the Pingjiang station falling 1.49 meters as of 6 pm Tuesday.

Evacuation of 242,000 people in Anhui

In East China's Anhui province, rainstorms have left 991,000 residents affected and forced the evacuation of 242,000 people, as of Tuesday afternoon, local authorities said.

As of 4 pm Tuesday, rainstorms had wreaked havoc in 36 counties and districts in seven prefecture-level cities in Anhui, according to the provincial emergency-management department.

Torrential rains continued to lash a large swathe of Anhui province over the past day, as of 5 pm Tuesday, with 387 stations receiving precipitations exceeding 100 mm, with the largest reading being 266 mm

The Yangtze River has seen water levels in its Anhui section exceed their warning marks, and levels continue to rise. Torrential rains have also pushed waters above their guaranteed or alert levels in another 20 rivers and six lakes in the province.

Torrential rains continued to lash a large swathe of the province over the past day, as of 5 pm Tuesday, with 387 stations receiving precipitations exceeding 100 mm, with the largest reading being 266 mm.

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The rainstorms prompted the three cities of Ma'anshan, Wuhu and Tongling in Anhui to raise their emergency response to flooding to Level III, the third-highest level.

In their emergency response to rainstorms and flooding, authorities in cities along the Yangtze River in Anhui have dispatched more than 50,000 people to patrol dikes.

In the next 24 hours, up to 8 pm Wednesday, showers or moderate rains are forecast to hit many parts of the province, according to the Anhui meteorological center.