Better weather forecasts urged

China's meteorological chief has urged the country's weather forecasters to enhance weather monitoring and provide more accurate forecasts, as the worst rainstorms in a century continue lashing southern regions.

The fact that forecasters were not able to assist authorities with disaster control demonstrates shortcomings in the country's current short-term weather prediction capabilities, China Meteorological Administration (CMA) director Zheng Guoguang said during a teleconference on Saturday in Beijing.

He called on all meteorological departments to improve extreme weather-forecasting accuracy, especially in areas prone to weather-related disasters.