Floods triggered by tropical storm Bilis are finally retreating in China's coastal provinces after at least 198 people died, local officials said.

Armed Police troops try to mend up river dams in Zhangzhou, East China's Fujian Province after rainstorms damaged the section. Photo is taken on July 18, 2006. [Xinhua]

In Guangdong Province, the worst hit, people struggled to cope with water shortages, ravaged roads and other damage, the China News Service reported yesterday.

Moreover, traffic, water, electricity and communications have returned to normal in Fuzhou, capital of East China's Fujian Province, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

But rain was still forecast for Hunan and Guangdong provinces today and tomorrow.

To better deal with the disastrous floods, the Ministry of Civil Affairs activated Grades 4 and 3 of the emergency response mechanism, Xinhua said.

A round-the-clock alert towards possible geological disasters issued by the Ministry of Land and Resources remained in effect.

During a field visit to Hunan, Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu urged authorities and governments in disaster-hit areas to take effective relief measures to relocate those who had lost their homes and to curb the spread of infectious diseases.

Hui said storm-ravaged areas still face great challenges, asking governments at all levels to take effective measures to prevent more possible disasters and ensure safety of major rivers and reservoirs in the flooding season.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters have sent a dozen of task forces to check flood prevention and control efforts along major rivers.

Hui warned local officials of their duty in flood control, asking them to take measures against possible spread of epidemics in flood-hit areas.

The vice-premier also urged local governments to help farmers restart farming production in disaster-ravaged areas to minimize the damage to crop growth and harvest.

Geological disaster supervision, patrol work and risk appraisal must focus on flood control of small and medium-sized rivers and reservoirs while being on alert for large-scale ones, Hui noted.

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