HEFEI: A Party official in East China's Anhui Province has been removed from office after absenting himself from the fight against floods, sources with the local government said yesterday.

Zhang Yunbin, former Party secretary of Zhenxing Village in the Runhe Township of Yingshang County, was deprived of his post, after county discipline officials found him "not directing work at the flood front," an official with the county discipline inspection committee said.

On Thursday night, discipline officials went to the village, where they saw the deputy secretary directing farmers to stack sand bags to prevent flooding. Zhang was absent and his cell phone was turned off.

"Zhang left his station at a crucial time, and this had a very negative impact on the ongoing flood-prevention work," the discipline official said.

"Failing responsibility during floods is like touching a high-voltage electricity wire. Officials that commit any illegal activities or behave poorly must be immediately and severely punished," he said.

He did not elaborate on what Zhang was doing at the time.

Anhui is still facing immediate flood threats, as torrential rain in the upper reaches of the river continues to push the third flood peak of the year towards Wangjiaba, a crucial hydrological station, the local drought-prevention and flood-control office said.

Xinhua

(China Daily 07/16/2007 page3)