Vice-Premier Inspects Flood-Afflicted Southern Province

Vice-Premier Inspects Flood-Afflicted Southern Province

Vice-Premier Wen Jiabao made a two-day inspection tour of the flood-affected areas in south China's Hainan Province late last week and extended the regards of the central authorities to local residents.

Wen, who heads the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, visited Haikou, Qiongshan, Qionghai, Ding'an, Wanning and other seriously afflicted areas, accompanied by Du Qinglin, secretary of the Communist Party of China Hainan Provincial Committee, and Wang Xiaofeng, the provincial governor.

Wen said the army units and residents in Hainan have achieved success in rebuilding what has been damaged. He urged them to redouble their efforts to resume normal production and build a new homeland.

He said the tasks on flood-control and relief work also included providing an adequate supply of food and clothing for flood-affected residents, epidemic prevention, maintenance of public security in flood-afflicted areas and repairing damaged water-control projects.

Typhoon and rainstorm struck most parts of Hainan in mid-September. Floods inundated 15 of the province's 19 counties and cities, affecting 2.96 million people.