File photo of the tourist attraction of Three Gorges on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province.

Three tourists from Taiwan were killed by falling rocks at a scenic area in central China's Hubei Province Sunday morning, according to local authorities.

The accident happened at 9:45 a.m. in Yichang, when a group of 45 people organized by a Taiwan travel agency were at the tourist attraction of Three Gorges on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Two men and one woman tourist died.

Two others, who were injured, have been rushed to a local hospital, according to the Taiwan Affairs Office of Hubei. Their injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

The remaining 40 have been evacuated to a safe location, among whom 30 are heading for the next stop of the trip, while 10 will stay in Yichang.

The scenic area has been closed and cause of the accident is under investigation.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the office offers its condolences to the families of the victims.

The Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits will send a task force to Hubei to assist, Ma said.

The State Council and ARATS have activated an emergency response mechanism and updated the Taiwan tourism agency about the tragedy via the Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits, Ma said.

Hubei provincial tourism authorities have asked for strengthened efforts to guard against possible hazards to ensure the safety of tourists as the autumn flood season has begun and certain areas of the province are prone to geological disasters. The local governments have asked tourist attractions near the area to close temporarily for the safety of travelers.