Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu has urged local authorities to keep flood casualties and losses to minimum and to launch reconstruction work in a timely and orderly way.

Hui was speaking during an inspection of flood-affected areas in Weinan and Shangluo cities in North China's Shaanxi province from August 2 to 3.

He visited affected residents, as well as soldiers who were fighting the floods, saying the flood work had entered a crucial stage.

Since mid July, many areas in Shaanxi province have seen continuous rain, leading to frequent natural disasters, such as floods, mountain torrents and mud-rock flows.

Continuous rainstorms caused mud-rock flows in Zhulinguan Village of Danfeng county, Shangluo city, on July 23 and 24. Hui visited the village and urged officials to address food, drinking water, clothing and housing issues.

He also called for the repair of roads and resumption of water and electricity supplies as soon as possible.

Homes, schools and hospitals should be reconstruction priorities, he said.

Meteorologists forecast higher than average rainfall this month along the province's Hanjiang and Weihe rivers. Hui ordered local governments to intensify flood warnings, improve response plans, reinforce reservoirs and river embankments and replenish emergency materials, so as to be well prepared for more rain and floods.