Top priority should be given to people's lives, safety, he says in instruction

President Xi Jinping has underlined the importance of putting people and life first in an instruction given on the country's flood control and disaster relief work.

The National Meteorological Center issued an alert for rainstorms for the 27th straight day on Sunday as floods caused by continuous downpours have left at least 81 people missing or dead.

With downpours increasing in southern and southwestern China, many areas have been hit by flooding and geological disasters, Xi said. He required local governments at all levels and all related departments to make all-out efforts to prevent disasters and carry out emergency rescue work.

Noting that some areas hit severely by floods will enter the typhoon season, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, asked departments including the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters to strengthen coordination and guide the flood and typhoon prevention and relief work in relevant regions.

In the instruction released on Sunday, Xi said that governments and departments should make overall arrangements concerning the current COVID-19 pandemic prevention measures as well as flood control, clearly identify responsibilities and combine prevention work with emergency responses.

He also required efforts to strengthen monitoring over the flood situation, to identify potential risks in a timely manner, and to well organize rescue and relief work.

Xi noted that people affected by the disasters should receive appropriate resettlement and that top priority should be given to guaranteeing people's lives and safety.