Hebei commits to rebuilding lives of flood victims

Hebei province is set to undergo a two-year reconstruction effort following significant damage caused by the recent heavy downpours and flooding.

In anticipitation of the next flood season, which usually spans from July to August, the province aims to complete the restoration of flood control facilities destroyed by floodwater, according to Zhang Chengzhong, head of the province's flood control and drought relief headquarters. His statements were made during a news conference Friday morning.

Before the flood season in 2025, all reconstruction work will be finished, he added.

Zhang, also vice governor of Hebei, said all students that have been affected by the flooding disaster will go back to school as scheduled for the upcoming semester, and residents that were relocated from flood-prone areas will either return home or relocate to new houses before winter arrives.

"We will ensure that order in work and life for the disaster-hit people will be basically restored before winter this year," added Jia Letang, deputy head of Hebei Development and Reform Commission.

According to Jia, the province will conduct an analysis of causes of the damage, in order to enhance the drainage and anti-waterlogging systems.

During the reconstruction work, the flood control projects will be planned rationally in order to improve the infrastructure's anti-flood capability, and thus effectively avoid repeated disasters, Jia said.