BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Vice Premier Wang Yang on Saturday called for more efforts to brace against flooding as the rainy season approaches.

Local governments and departments should monitor weather and flooding changes closely, issue forecasts and alerts in a timely manner, pinpoint problem areas along key rivers, and pay attention to reservoir safety, Wang said.

He made the remarks while chairing a State Council meeting on flood control.

Rainstorms have battered large parts of south China since May 4, breaking a 40-year rainfall record, China's National Meteorological Center said on Friday.

Average rainfall in south China was 199.9 millimeters, 74 percent higher than normal.

The center forecast that the downpour will continue through next week.