Authorities renew orange geological disaster alert, urge caution in high-risk areas

Chinese authorities renewed an orange alert for geological disaster meteorological risk — the second highest on the country's four-tier warning system — on Monday, as heavy rainfall across parts of southern and central China heightened the risk of geological hazards such as landslides and debris flows.

The alert, jointly issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the China Meteorological Administration, is effective from 8 pm on Monday to 8 pm on Tuesday. Southeastern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region is under the orange alert, where localized areas face a high risk of geological disasters.

Yellow-alert areas — the third-highest level — cover a broad area of the country, including western Anhui, southeastern Henan, northeastern Hubei, western Hunan, southwestern Guangdong, central and eastern Guangxi, southeastern Guizhou, and western Yunnan.

Authorities have urged governments at all levels and relevant departments to activate emergency response plans and carry out preventive measures in accordance with established protocols.

Residents in orange-alert regions, particularly those living near identified high-risk hazard points, should evacuate immediately to designated shelters under the coordination of local disaster prevention authorities. People living near slopes, cliffs, gullies, or waterways should evacuate promptly upon receiving evacuation signals, authorities said.

In yellow-alert areas, the public is advised to closely monitor warning updates, pay attention to nearby warning signs, and avoid lingering in high-risk areas such as valleys, slopes, and steep cliffs.