The government vowed yesterday that by 2020, it will have
developed and introduced a nationwide system of measures to deal
with earthquakes measuring up to 6 on the Richter scale.
A document released by the State Council said that on completion
of the network, medium and large cites and economically prosperous
areas will be as well equipped to prevent and deal with major
quakes as those in most moderately developed countries.
The government is keen to ensure that the country's ability to
handle frequently occurring natural disasters keeps pace with its
booming economic and social development.
Located within the Eurasian seismic zone, one of the world's
most active, China is at constant risk from powerful and
destructive quakes.
Since 1900, 1.2 million people around the world have lost their
lives to earthquakes; 590,000 of them were Chinese.
With most of the Chinese casualties being victims of poor
construction - crushed by falling timber and masonry - the document
stressed the need for more "quakeproof" buildings in areas prone to
deadly tremors.
Early-warning and rapid-response systems will also be put in
place, the document said.
In addition, provincial capitals and other cities with a
population of more than 1 million will be required to construct
emergency shelters to accommodate and protect residents in the
event of a natural disaster.
Furthermore, city authorities should build reserves of essential
supplies for use in such circumstances, so life can return to
normal as soon as possible, the report said.
Also, anyone injured during a natural disaster should receive
medical assistance within a maximum of 24 hours, it said.
The report said that as well as developing the prevention and
handling network, the government is committed to raising public
awareness of earthquakes and equipping them with potentially
life-saving knowledge.
(China Daily November 1, 2007)