(Yicai Global) May 27 -- Heavy rains have already started in China’s southern regions and the water level in many rivers is already above the warning threshold, state broadcaster CCTV News reported today.

Ninety-seven small and medium-sized rivers burst their banks this month, the report said, citing the Ministry of Water Resources. This is 10 percent more than in previous years. Those rivers that overflowed are between one centimeter and 3.59 meters above the danger level.

As the flooding season approaches, the ministry has organized drills in the drainage basins of the Yellow River, Huaihe River and Pearl River to protect against overflowing rivers and has urged local governments to repair flood damage as soon as possible, said Sun Chunpeng, director of the hydrological information forecasting center at the Ministry of Water Resources.

“We must pay attention to rising water levels in rivers and reservoirs and watch out for disasters such as mountain torrents,” he added.

The government will be keen to avoid the catastrophic damage caused by flooding last year which led to direct economic losses of CNY25.7 billion (USD4 billion), according to the Ministry of Emergency Management. Over 12 million people were affected, and 78 people either died or went missing.

Editor: Kim Taylor