BEIJING - Chinese authorities on Wednesday issued a red alert, the most serious, for forest fire outbreaks in two southwestern provinces.

Sichuan and Yunnan provinces will face high risk of forest fires in the next three days as drought persists, said the State Headquarters for Forest Fire Control in a statement.

The two provinces have already seen several forest fires in recent days as they have experienced hotter weather and less rainfall, according to the statement.

Precipitation levels in the two regions have dropped by more than 50 percent compared to historical averages, said the statement.

The red alert represents the highest level in the country's forest fire warning system.