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Beijing

Authorities warn of geological disasters

China's weather authorities issued an alert on Monday for possible geological disasters in some western and southwestern regions. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the China Meteorological Administration forecast a high risk of geological disasters caused by heavy rain in parts of Shaanxi, Gansu and Sichuan provinces and in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region until Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Water Resources and the weather authority warned of mountain torrents in central Xinjiang over the next 24 hours. To guard against mountain torrents, the two agencies told local authorities to strengthen real-time monitoring and flood warnings and to be prepared to conduct evacuations.