Northern areas face severe flood risk this season

The northern region of the country is anticipated to face generally more severe flooding this year, with a higher frequency of extreme precipitation events during the main flood season from June to August, according to an official from the Ministry of Water Resources.

At a news conference on Monday, Yao Wenguang, head of the ministry's Department of Flood and Drought Disaster Prevention, also cautioned that severe typhoons might move northward deep into inland territories in midsummer, elevating the overall potential of a flooding disaster.

He noted the second half of July and the first half of August as a period with higher flooding risks.

During the time, the frequency of regional heavy rainstorms and floods is expected to significantly increase, he said.

The ministry will strengthen monitoring, forecasting, and early warning, as well as enhance collaborative consultations, to ensure the safety of people's lives, reservoirs, dikes and critical infrastructure, he said.