Minister forecasts summer of flooding in north, south

Major watercourses in northern China may suffer severe flooding between June and August, Li Guoying, Minister of Water Resources said on Tuesday. 

The ministry's forecasts show that it's likely that northern and southern parts of the country will be stricken by floods during the three month period, he said on the sidelines of the ongoing fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress.

"The floods in the south are expected be more severe," Li noted, adding that seven major rivers in the north may be affected, including the Songhua, Heilong and Yellow rivers.

Central China, however, is expected to suffer from drought, he said, especially the middle reaches of the Yangtze, the country's longest river, and the lower reaches of the Hanjiang River.

The minister noted the importance of analyzing and forecasting in a consistent and timely manner to mitigate potential flooding.

As parts of efforts to ensure the safety of lives and property, the ministry will beef up early warnings and draft emergency response plans, he said.