Early warning system effective in Sichuan quake

An early warning system established in the province of Sichuan is being credited with possibly preventing casualties following a 6.0-magnitude earthquake on Monday night.

As the quake first began, a warning was sent through broadcast signals to radios, televisions and mobile phones to residents near and beyond the epicenter, which was in Changning County, located on the outskirts of the city of Yibin.

Photo taken on June 17, 2019, shows an early quake warning appearing on the screen of a TV in Ya'an, Sichuan Province, alerting residents that seismic waves would arrive in 25 seconds. [Photo: China Daily]

So far 13 people are confirmed dead, with over 200 others injured in the quake.

However, locals are suggesting the quake could have created more casualties.

Local media reports say residents in Yibin were alerted ten seconds before the effects of the quake started to be felt.

In Chengdu, Sichuan's capital, located 300 kilometers from the epicenter, the alert was sent out up to 61 seconds ahead of the arrival of seismic waves.

People from 180 schools and 101 communities were evacuated after receiving the early warning, Wang Tun, head of the Institute of Care-life, a key earthquake early warning laboratory in Chengdu, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Photo taken on June 18, 2019 shows a damaged store in Changning County, Yibin, Sichuan Province. [Photo: Xinhua/Zhuang Geer]

According to Wang, the early warning system simultaneously sent a warning to government departments, communities and other places through various platforms, such as mobile phones, television and other broadcast mediums.

"Loudspeakers installed for earthquake warnings in 60 different communities in Chengdu were also activated. Residents in the Chengdu High-tech Industrial Development Zone were given a 60-second countdown alert, allowing them to take prompt action," said Wang.

Earthquake research has found that being aware of a sizeable earthquake 3 seconds beforehand can save 14 percent of casualties, while 10 seconds can prevent 39 percent of casualties, and 20 seconds can possibly save 63 percent of the casualties from an earthquake.

A 6.0-magnitude quake hits Changning County, Yibin, Sichuan Province, 10:55 p.m. Monday (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC). [Photo: Xinhua/Qin Ying]

Chengdu's warning system covers 2 million square kilometers. China became the third country in the world, after Japan and Mexico, to install an earthquake early warning system.

"China's capacity in earthquake monitoring and disaster relief has improved since 2008, when the Wenchuan Earthquake in Sichuan killed more than 69,000 people and left nearly 18,000 missing," said a report submitted to the country's top legislature last year.

(Story includes material sourced from Global Times.)