China sets up world's largest earthquake early warning network

On July 26, the China Earthquake Administration (CEA) announced that the country has completed the National Earthquake Early Warning Project, the largest earthquake early warning network in the world.

Speaking at a press conference, CEA Deputy Director Yin Zhaomin said the project provides earthquake early warning services and rapid earthquake intensity reporting services through the deployment of 15,899 monitoring stations across China.

Early warnings can reach the public through TV, IPTV, mobile apps like WeChat and Alipay, as well as local loudspeakers, the official said.

Earthquake early warnings are based on data from a dense network of seismic monitoring stations.

People can take precautions to reduce casualties, after receiving warnings a few seconds to a few dozen seconds before an earthquake occurs.

China's earthquake early warning network can detect any earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or higher in most areas of the country.

The network is now integrated with industries such as railways, pipelines, power grids, nuclear power and natural gas.

According to Mr. Yin Zhaomin, through the project, China has achieved significant breakthroughs in core technologies of earthquake early warning and rapid intensity reporting, and the overall performance of the system is on par with international advanced standards.

China is a country with a high earthquake record. In 2023, the country suffered 18 earthquakes of magnitude 5 or higher, of which 11 occurred in mainland China.