SCIO press conference on implementing major decisions and plans of 20th CPC National Congress, promoting modernization of emergency management system and capacity
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E-mail China.org.cn, June 27, 2023
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In recent years, China has vigorously promoted the construction of the Earthquake Early Warning System (EEWS) . Sichuan, Fujian, Yunnan, and many other places have already started to provide earthquake early warning information services. The National Seismic Intensity Rapid Reporting and Early Warning project is also expected to be completed and accepted by the end of 2023. How is the project going? What changes will it bring to enhance China's earthquake prevention and disaster reduction capabilities? Thank you.
Min Yiren:
Thank you for your concern and support for our earthquake prevention and disaster reduction work. Vigorously advancing the construction of China's earthquake early warning system (EEWS) and implementing the National Seismic Intensity Rapid Reporting and Early Warning project are important measures to implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's new concept on disaster prevention, mitigation and relief. Additionally, the measures will vigorously improve China's capabilities to prevent and mitigate earthquakes. The goal of this project is to establish a national seismic intensity rapid report and early warning observation network. This will allow for nationwide minute-level instrumental seismic intensity rapid reporting and second-level earthquake early warnings in key areas, providing services for the public to reduce disaster and defuse risks and for industries to make emergency responses. Under the supervision and guidance of the Party committee of the MEM, the Party leadership group of the China Earthquake Administration has always regarded the construction of the project as an important political task and has made important progress in promoting its construction and services. It has the following characteristics.
First, we have emphasized technological innovation. We have independently overcome a series of technical issues, including multi-network integration and stable second-level processing of massive real-time data. We have developed comprehensive decision-making processes incorporating multiple algorithms and centers. We have also achieved sub-second information dissemination for a large number of users. As a result of these advancements, we have established the world's largest earthquake early warning system. This has allowed us to make a leap in development, transitioning from minute-level earthquake rapid reporting to second-level earthquake early warning.
Second, we have strengthened integration. We have formed organizational collaborations with education, television broadcasting, and other sectors and departments as well as with local Party committees and governments. We have deepened our strategic and technical cooperation with enterprises such as China National Railway Group, China Tower, PipeChina, Huawei and the Institute of Care-life. Together, we are striving to build a unified network for China's EEWS.
Third, we have strengthened our application services. Upholding our commitment to public welfare and basic services, the earthquake departments have provided standard earthquake early warning information services to all sectors of society. We have encouraged, supported and regulated industry departments and enterprises to develop value-added early warning information services.
At present, the main construction tasks of the project have been completed. We have established 15,391 earthquake early warning stations, three national centers, 31 provincial centers, and 173 prefecture-level information release centers. China's EEWS, which comprises five major systems including station observation, data processing, information services, a communications network, and technical support, has launched pilot services in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and provinces including Sichuan, Yunnan and Fujian. The system is expected to be fully completed and accepted by the end of this year. Once the project is implemented, it will play a role in disaster reduction in the following ways.
First, the system will act as a first line of defense for earthquake rescue and relief efforts, aiming to reduce the number of casualties resulting from earthquakes. After a destructive earthquake occurs, the EEWS will release early warning information via various channels such as emergency radio, mobile phone, TV, and dedicated terminals. This will provide users in the target area with an early warning within seconds to tens of seconds, allowing for risk mitigation. Within minutes of an earthquake, the system can measure its seismic intensity and quickly analyze the distribution of the hardest-hit areas, providing a scientific basis for decision making and deployment of earthquake relief. On Sept. 5, 2022, the EEWS successfully released early warning information just 6.2 seconds after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake shook Luding county in southwestern China's Sichuan province, achieving full second-level early warning coverage for a population of 1.5 million in the epicenter and its surrounding areas.
Second, it aims to "escort and protect" emergency response for lifeline projects and major infrastructure. By leveraging earthquake warning terminals, emergency broadcasting, and special communication lines, it provides crucial earthquake warning information for automatic emergency response of major strategic infrastructure such as high-speed railways, nuclear power plants, oil and gas pipeline networks, high dam reservoirs, as well as public infrastructure such as high-rise buildings, underground facilities, and large-scale complexes. This fills the gap in cross-industry earthquake emergency linkage services, promotes the expansion from seismic monitoring to earthquake disaster risk monitoring and prevention, and strengthens whole society's capacity to protect against and mitigate earthquake disasters.
Thirdly, it provides strong support for the progress of Earth science and international cooperation on disaster reduction. Leveraging its advantage in having built the world's largest real-time seismic monitoring station network, it provides high-quality scientific data and information to promote innovative development in real-time seismology, real-time disaster studies, and seismic engineering, thereby contributing to the advancement of Earth science. Currently, China's earthquake warning technology has been applied abroad in the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia. The China Earthquake Administration will continue to utilize its professional technical advantages to better serve the country's overall diplomacy, strengthen international cooperation in protecting against and mitigating earthquake disasters, and work together to reduce seismic disaster risks.
Going forward, the China Earthquake Administration will continue to improve the construction of the Chinese earthquake warning network, constantly enhancing the safety, reliability, and standardization of earthquake warning services, expanding fields and effectiveness of service, and providing even stronger earthquake safety guarantees for high-quality economic and social development. Thank you.
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