Northwest China on high alert as heavy rain raises risk of floods and landslides

Authorities in China's northwestern Shaanxi and Gansu provinces have issued urgent emergency alerts as heavy rainfall threatens to trigger widespread floods and landslides.

Xian, the capital of Shaanxi province, upgraded its rainstorm warning to the highest red level on Thursday evening. The city experienced intense downpours, causing flooding in several urban areas. In response, authorities closed all valleys along the Qin Mountains range and temporarily shut down multiple forest parks.

Gansu province's meteorological authorities elevated their heavy rain emergency response to Level III from Level IV. They warned of significantly increased risks for flash floods, landslides, and urban flooding. Additionally, a red alert for geological disasters was issued for specific districts and counties in Longnan, highlighting a high probability of landslides and mudslides within the next 24 hours. By Thursday afternoon, 61 tourist attractions in Longnan had been temporarily closed.

These warnings come after recent deadly incidents in Gansu, where a landslide in a valley in early July claimed 21 lives, and heavy rains triggered flash floods in a scenic area on Sunday, resulting in 10 fatalities. The current alerts aim to prevent further tragedies as the region braces for continued adverse weather.