China's disaster relief department on Wednesday called for disaster relief drills across the nation around the third disaster reduction day that will fall on May 12.

The "disaster prevention and reduction day" was set in 2009, after a devastating earthquake hit Sichuan and neighboring Gansu and Shaanxi provinces on May 12, 2008, leaving 87,000 people dead or missing.

The State Disaster Relief Commission ordered in a circular local disaster relief agencies to conduct drills in communities, schools, hospitals and government institutions across the nation, mainly regarding earthquake, flood and fire emergencies.

The commission also urged relevant departments to launch a nationwide overhaul around that day countering potential disaster hazards.