Emergency level raised to prevent geological disasters in Zhejiang and Fujian

The Ministry of Natural Resources activated a Level III emergency response for geological disaster prevention — the second-lowest in the four-tier system — in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces on Friday, dispatching a working group to provide on-site guidance.

Meteorological forecasts said that Typhoon Bavi, the ninth typhoon of the year, is expected to bring 150 to 300 millimeters of cumulative rainfall to southern Zhejiang and northeastern Fujian from Friday to Monday, with some areas reaching 500 to 600 millimeters. The ministry's geological disaster technical guidance center identified high risks of geological disasters in those areas.

The ministry urged local natural resources authorities to strengthen risk awareness, closely track the typhoon's path and prioritize geological disaster prevention during its passage. They were instructed to conduct inspections, strengthen monitoring and early warning, hold consultation meetings, handle emergencies and ensure timely information reporting.

It is required that the China Geological Survey and the geological disaster technical guidance center step up assessments and coordinate stationed experts to fully support local disaster prevention efforts, the ministry said.