HAIKOU - President Hu Jintao said in Beijing on Friday that saving lives must be the top priority for flood-relief work in China's southernmost island province of Hainan.

Hu said people who were threatened by floods should be rapidly relocated, and measures should be taken to prevent secondary disasters and reduce losses.

Since Sept 30, the island has suffered continuous downpours, causing many rivers to swell and leading to floods in some areas. More than 1.6 million local residents have been affected.