Despite the contingency plans in place in the event of natural disasters, the heavy death toll caused by recent flooding across China has exposed the absence of a timely and effective early-warning mechanism.

On Tuesday afternoon, a fierce rainstorm hit Wulan county in northwestern Qinghai province and flood waters swept through a construction site, leaving 24 workers dead.

Heavy flooding and landslides in the country's south and northeast following torrential rains and a typhoon in recent days have already left more than 200 people dead or missing.