BEIJING — Chinese authorities on Sept 27 issued an orange alert, the second-highest, for possible geological disasters triggered by heavy rain in parts of Southwest China's Sichuan province and Shaanxi province in the northwest of the country.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the China Meteorological Administration warned of risks of rain-triggered disasters in the regions from 8 pm on Sept 27 to 8 pm on Sept 28.

They also issued a yellow alert for such disasters in parts of Henan, Hubei and Chongqing.

Residents have been advised to take precautions, especially in areas with hidden dangers.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.