Red Alert Issued in Northwestern China for Flash Floods and Geological Disasters

Lanzhou (The Uttam Hindu): A red alert was issued for meteorological risks of flash floods and geological disasters on Saturday in northwest China's Gansu province amid heavy rains continuing in parts of the region.

The provincial water resources department and the provincial meteorological bureau jointly issued a red alert for flash floods at 6:10 a.m., citing an increased threat from short-term heavy rainfall in parts of Pingliang and Qingyang.

Later the same day, the provincial natural resources department and the provincial meteorological bureau issued a red alert for weather-induced geological disasters in the same areas, warning of high risks of hazards such as landslides, soil collapses and mudslides.

A total of 80 to 120 millimeters of rain is forecast over the next 12 hours, with the heaviest rainfall expected to be between 35 and 55 millimeters per hour, according to the provincial meteorological bureau. The

at-risk areas are highly vulnerable to heavy rainfall, which can lead to both flash floods and geological disasters. Authorities have urged strengthening real-time monitoring, early warning systems and evacuating residents from high-risk areas.

China has a four-level weather warning system - with red indicating the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.