The southern China city of Guangzhou conducted a drill against air raids on Saturday, applying the Beidou satellite emergency alert system for the first time.

Altogether 12 suburbs of the city sounded air raid sirens from 11:30 to 11:33 Saturday morning during a simulation of enemy planes raiding coastal cities after attacking islands in the South China Sea, the Southern Daily said.

An emergency alert system featuring the Beidou satellite was applied in the simulation for the first time nationwide, the Guangzhou Daily said.

The system can send alerts to targeted receivers from long distances and can also transmit results to the control center, experts said. The updated and targeted information will help victims prevent damage and evacuate in time, especially in natural disasters.

More than 4,000 people, including 100 students and teachers from a high school, participated in the maneuver, which city authorities described as a success.

The drill included warnings, evacuations, sheltering, self-care, first aid, and repair of flooded shelters.

It is the 15th consecutive year for the city to conduct an air defense drill.