China's Education Ministry Tuesday called on local education authorities to ensure students' safety as some southern provinces suffer rainstorms, rain-triggered floods and landslides.

The ministry made the call in a notice published on its website.

It said disasters triggered by heavy rains are threatening the safety of students in and out of school, urging local education authorities to make all-out efforts to ensure safety of students.

Education authorities, as well as primary and secondary schools in disaster-hit regions, may suspend classes for the students' safety concern.

Schools should give lectures to students before the summer vacation starts to remind them of safety when swimming and traveling, the notice said.

To prevent drowning accidents, warning signs should be placed near the waterside, the notice said.

Summer vacation usually starts in early July and lasts for more than a month.