HONG KONG: China moved tourists out of the famous Jiuzhaigou scenic area on July 27 after heavy rain caused mudslides, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

At the same time, authorities issued the highest level of warning for flash floods in several parts of the country after Typhoon Noul.

Jiuzhaigou, located in Sichuan province in the southwest, is well known for its beautiful natural scenery, including colorful pools in shades of blue, green and purple, snowy mountain peaks, lakes and layered waterfalls.

CCTV reported that some of the main tourist spots in the area had been closed. Tourists who were stranded there were being taken out safely.

These closures happened as China raised its top-level alert for flash floods in many provinces. This came after Typhoon Noul, described as the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year, brought very heavy rain to southern and central China.

Local authorities said that because of mudslides, certain areas of Jiuzhaigou would be temporarily closed from July 27. They explained that the area above Arrow Bamboo Lake, including the lake itself in Rize Valley, as well as the entire Zechawa Valley, would not be open to visitors for the time being.

China's Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration issued a red alert for flash floods till July 27. They warned that there was a high risk of flooding in parts of Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Gansu and southeastern Xinjiang.

Mudslides and soil erosion often happen in China's mountain areas, especially where steep valleys and rivers meet. These events are more likely during the heavy summer rain season. This month alone, at least four deadly landslides have been reported across the country.

In Chongqing, a large landslide caused by heavy rain killed 11 people, and about 50 others are still missing.

In another incident, at least 21 people died when a landslide hit Tanchang, a mountainous county in Gansu province in the northwest. In the same province, flash floods at a popular camping site in Weiyuan county killed 10 tourists and injured 23 others.

In a separate event, five people died when loose soil collapsed and buried a house in a village in northern Shanxi province.

These severe weather events are happening during China's main flood-control period, known as Qixia Bashang, which lasts from mid-July to mid-August.

Weather experts have warned that extreme rainfall is likely to become more frequent and more intense in the coming weeks. They expect that northern China could receive 20 percent to 50 percent more rain than usual.

In Hong Kong, airport officials said that about 350 flights were canceled on July 26. Around 2,000 passengers were left stuck at the airport over the weekend. Authorities also reported that at least 21 people across the city were injured during the typhoon.