BEIJING — Chinese authorities on Oct 7 issued a blue alert for a possible typhoon in the south as well as a yellow alert for geological disasters triggered by heavy rainfall in parts of the northern and western regions.

A tropical depression in the sea area southeast of Wanning, Hainan province, is likely to move northwestward and strengthen into a typhoon on Oct 8, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

The NMC expected the typhoon to make landfall on the eastern coast of Hainan between Oct 8 evening and Oct 9 morning.

From Oct 7 evening to Oct 8 evening, gales and rainstorms are likely to hit areas including parts of the South China Sea, the island of Hainan and the coast of Guangdong province, the observatory said.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the China Meteorological Administration on Oct 7 issued a yellow alert for geological disasters triggered by heavy rainfall in parts of the northern and western regions.

Authorities warned of relatively high risks of geological disasters in parts of Shanxi, Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu from 8 pm Oct 7 to 8 pm Oct 8.

Local residents have been advised to take precautions, especially in areas with hidden geological dangers.

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