Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing called on officials to strengthen relief work and post-disaster reconstruction to help floods-hit regions return to normalcy at an early date during his inspection in north China's Hebei Province on Monday.

Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited temporary shelters in the city of Zhuozhou, one of the worst-affected areas in Hebei, and inspected the work of resettling local residents and clearing roads, as well as the supply of water, power and daily necessities.

While the flood is receding, local authorities should stay alert and continue to improve dike patrols and emergency response, and prevent secondary disasters including landslides, Zhang said.

To help people return to their homes safely, Zhang demanded strengthened efforts to drain floodwater in urban areas, clear silt, garbage and debris, conduct environmental disinfection, and remove safety hazards in buildings.

He also stressed concerted efforts to meet people's basic needs, especially medical demands and stable market supply, and urged local officials to carry out reconstruction and compensation work as soon as possible. 

Torrential rainstorms and floods have wreaked havoc in north and northeast China over the past weeks. Data from insurance companies shows that the total compensation claims from car damages to losses of crops have amounted to 6.24 billion yuan, and they have paid out 264 million yuan so far. 

Rescue workers, equipment and vehicles were dispatched to help flood-hit regions, assisting to reinforce river embankments, repair roads, relocate residents, and restore power and communication facilities.

As of Sunday, the central government has allocated 520 million yuan in central natural disaster relief funds, according to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management. Local governments can use these funds for disaster relief, emergency response, relocating residents, seeking flood-related hazards, and restoring damaged homes, the authorities said.

(With input from Xinhua)