As northern China enters its flood season, Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu has urged local authorities to step up flood-control preparations.

Hui made the remarks on Saturday at a flood control conference after a two-day tour inspecting the facilities on Haihe River near Tianjin.

"We have seen higher-than-average rains this year," Hui said. "Extreme weather is happening more frequently, and strong torrential rains hit both southern and northern China. We cannot afford any carelessness in flood control."

Hui urged related authorities to strengthen early warning systems, make contingency plans, and step up defense of important, dangerous or weak embankments.

Flooding and related disasters since the beginning of June have left 252 people dead and 64 missing across China, which saw the start of the main flood season on Tuesday.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2008)