China's Heilongjiang Province held comprehensive emergency drills spanning disaster prevention and rescue ahead of the main flood season, Huanqiu reported, a practice-oriented exercise checking levee reinforcement, drainage and evacuation procedures.

Northern regions are vulnerable to concentrated summer rainfall and river flooding. Advance drills play a key role in reducing loss of life and property in real situations.

Authorities stressed early warnings linked to weather forecasts, advance checks of vulnerable points and confirmation of evacuation routes, with checking inter-agency coordination also an aim.

As climate change makes extreme rainfall more frequent, the importance of disaster prevention keeps rising; the level of preparation determines the scale of damage.

Sinophone Bridge Times views disaster preparedness as readiness that protects real lives, not 'drills for drills' sake.' The best prevention is never needing it, but without preparation the cost is harsh.