Orange alert issued for geological disaster risks in three provinces

China's Ministry of Natural Resources and the China Meteorological Administration jointly issued an orange alert for geological disaster risks at 6 pm on Friday, urging governments at all levels and relevant regions to step up preventive measures.

The authorities also advised the public to pay close attention to updated information and exercise caution when traveling to areas under alert.

According to the authorities, an orange alert has been issued for parts of northern Sichuan, southwestern Shaanxi, and southeastern Gansu. A yellow alert is in effect for parts of central-western Shanxi, central-southern Heilongjiang, southern Guangdong, southern Guangxi, northern and central-southern Sichuan, southwestern Shaanxi, and southeastern Gansu, from 8 pm Friday to 8 pm Saturday.

Residents in orange-alert zones who live near high-risk sites or threatened areas should immediately evacuate to nearby designated shelters as directed by local disaster response authorities, and those near slopes, cliffs, ravines, or waterways should follow evacuation signals and move to safety without delay.

People in yellow-alert zones should stay alert to any changes in warning information, pay attention to hazard signs in their vicinity, and avoid lingering in high-risk areas such as ravines, slopes, and steep cliffs.

China uses a four-tier, color-coded warning system for geological disaster risks, ranging from least to most severe: blue, yellow, orange, and red. Each level corresponds to escalating probability and potential impact of hazards such as landslides and mudslides. The orange alert, the second-highest level, signals a high risk of geological disasters. It triggers mandatory evacuation orders for residents in high-risk zones and requires local authorities to activate emergency response measures. In contrast, the yellow alert indicates a relatively high risk and calls for heightened vigilance and monitoring without mandatory relocation.