Flood relief efforts stepped up in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has sent three working groups to assist and guide flood control and disaster relief efforts in Beijing and Tianjin cities and Hebei province and has elevated the flood control emergency response for the areas to Level III — the third highest of the four-tier system — since Monday evening.

Severe rainstorms have swept North China since July 23, leading to high water levels in some reservoirs, breaches in river embankments and significant flooding. Beijing's Miyun and Huairou districts, as well as Chengde and Zhangjiakou in Hebei province were hit hard.

On Monday, the National Commission for Disaster Reduction activated a Level IV national emergency response, the lowest one, for Beijing and Hebei, deploying teams to provide guidance for disaster relief efforts, including ensuring the basic needs of affected people.

The central government has increased the allocation of 43,000 items of disaster relief supplies, including folding beds, towels, blankets, emergency lighting, on the basis of the previously allocated disaster relief materials to the affected areas.

The Red Cross Society of China provided 2,000 sets of household emergency kits and assisted the affected areas with food, drinking water, maternal and infant supplies and hygiene kits.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management allocated 350 million yuan ($48.8 million) to support rescue efforts in nine provinces, regions and municipalities including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Jilin and Shandong.