Flood control measures effective, authorities say

With flood-related casualties this year almost halved from the average of the past five years, the country's reformed emergency response system has proved effective amid the grimmest flood control situation in over two decades, according to authorities.

China has endured 21 major floods so far this rainy season, one more than in 1998. As of Tuesday, alert-triggering floods have occurred in 833 major rivers, and 77 of those waterways experienced their most severe floods on record, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.

Amid the grim flood control situation, China has seen a sharp decrease in flood-related casualties despite the wider impact of flooding on people's lives and the economy, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.