Beijing: Warning against the secondary disasters in the aftermath of last month's calamitous quake, China today asked the authorities to treat their prevention as an "urgent task", while efforts were underway to shift thousands to safer places.

Amidst torrential rains and frequent aftershocks after the devastating earthquake, the Chinese government warned authorities against landslides and mud-rock flows and asked them to take preventive measures.

"New geological disasters can happen any time due to the long-lasting aftershocks and much stronger precipitation as the countrys rivers enter the flooding season", the quake relief headquarters of the State Council said after a meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao. Besides, upto 50,000 locals have to be moved from highly dangerous terrain in Wenchuan, epicentre of the May 12 massive earthquake, to shelters built on open and solid ground before June 30 to avoid secondary disasters, a local government circular read, according to Xinhua news agency.

The quake-ravaged have been experiencing aftershocks with 12,437 recorded since the magnitude 8 temblor caused havoc in southwest China, particularly striking Sichuan province, with 69,170 people dead by official count.

Incessant heavy rains have also left at least 57 people dead and forced relocation of 1.27 million people in nine flood-ravaged provinces and region in south China.

Water levels in the major rivers of Guijiang, Qinjiang, Xunjiang and Xijiang had crossed warning levels, officials said yesterday. The China Meteorological Administration has forecast heavy rains for most parts of south China in the next 10 days and said some areas could experience torrential rains, strong gales and thunderstorms.

Source : PTI