Earthquake early warning system has been built

CHENGDU: China has built an earthquake early warning system in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, exploiting multiple broadcasting systems to alert citizens seconds before seismic waves arrive.

In an earthquake drill on Wednesday, an early warning was sent through radio, television and cell phones to 60 residential communities in Chengdu High-Tech district.

“The earthquake early warning is not an earthquake forecast.

“It just uses the theory that radio waves travel faster than seismic waves to give people seconds of time ahead of the jolt,” said Wang Tun, head of the Sichuan province Key Laboratory and Chengdu HighTech Disaster Reduction Institute.

Wang said that aided with advanced technology from the Internet of Things, the system connected with the seismic network sends out the warning when shock waves are monitored so people have extra seconds to find shelter.

Earthquake research has found that being aware of an earthquake three seconds ahead can save 14% of casualties, 10 seconds can save 39% of casualties and 20 seconds can save 63% of casualties.

In important sectors such as the chemical industry, nuclear industry, high-speed railways and urban metro systems, the earthquake early warning can substantially save losses and avoid secondary disasters, Wang said.

He said the Chengdu’s warning system covered 2.2 million sq km, where there are 660 million people.

The system makes China the third country in the world after Japan and Mexico with an earthquake early warning ability. — China Daily/Asia News Network