The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has warned of possible floods in the Huaihe River region in central and eastern China and called on local governments to take preventative actions against casualties and property loss.

E Jingping, head of the headquarters office, said on Thursday that risks of flood still existed and the situation seemed grim as a prolonged heavy rainfall was expected along the Huaihe River region in the next few days.

The National Meteorological Center said Thursday the Huaihe region should expect continuous rain over the following five to ten days.

"We still have many problems in this region," E said, adding that some reservoirs and hydropower plants still had serious safety concerns in their operation, while many of the flood prevention projects in the river region were newly-built and might not stand major floods.

He urged governments to strengthen weather monitoring and release flood alerts in time. Relocation of people should come first when flood strikes, he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Affairs also urged staff in its subordinate departments in Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong and Henan Provinces to adopt a 24-hour-on-duty system, to report flood disasters and relief work to the ministry in time.

Authorities must provide adequate food, water, clothing, shelter and medical treatment for people affected by the flood, to ensure social stability in the region, it said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2009)