Vice-premier urges all-out efforts to search for people missing after Gansu mountain torrents

LANZHOU -- Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing has called for all-out efforts to search for people missing in mountain torrents in Yuzhong county of Northwest China's Gansu province, when directing emergency response work at the disaster site.

Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, left for the county on Friday evening to guide on-site search and rescue and emergency response work. He visited the hardest-hit villages of Maliantan and Jiuzhuanggou, as well as a hospital and multiple temporary shelters for relocated residents.

At the on-site command center, Zhang chaired a meeting on rescue and relief operations, stressing that the search for those who are missing remains the top priority and urging rescue workers to move as quickly as possible while taking precautions against secondary disasters.

He stressed the need for meticulous care for the injured and compassion towards victims' families, directing authorities to ensure adequate living conditions for all relocated residents.

Repairs to damaged transportation, telecommunications and power infrastructure should be accelerated, he added.

Given recent, repeated extreme weather events, Zhang urged enhanced accuracy in rainfall forecasting, close monitoring of areas vulnerable to mountain torrents and geological hazards, and prompt relocation of at-risk residents.