Detection system could save lives in earthquakes

Source: China Daily | 05-12-2009 09:03

By Wang Zhuoqiong (China Daily)

A new earthquake alert system could save lives by providing people with advance warning.

Though the system is still experimental, it could give enough time to reduce casualties, said Du Wei, deputy director of the Earthquake Defense Department of China Earthquake Administration.

People pay their respect to dead earthquake victims in  Beichuan,Sichuan province on Monday, one day before the  first anniversary of the disaster which claimed nearly 90,000 lives.[Xu Jingxing] Photos: May 12 quake remembered across China

The announcement was made the day before the first anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake.

The country has set up more than 2,200 fixed earthquake monitoring and observation stations and more than 5,000 mobile ones to acquire punctual monitoring information, according to the White Paper - China's Actions for Disaster Prevention and Reduction.

Other investments include more than 400 million yuan ($58.4 million) on an earthquake exploration project.