Government and Policy

China aims to reach quake zones in 2 hours

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-25 21:06

BEIJING - Earthquakes in recent years have prompted the Chinese government to draw up a series of goals for rapid response and more efficient monitoring work, a government document indicated on Saturday.

According to the document issued by the State Council, China's cabinet, one goal by the year 2015 is to have search and rescue teams able to reach quake zones in less than two hours.

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Meanwhile, basic living standards of the people in disaster-hit regions will be ensured within 24 hours of an earthquake, said the document.

"China's quake relief and disaster work has seen big progress. However, problems still exist," said the document, citing a low capacity for monitoring and forecasting, and for disaster response and relief.

According to the document, China aims to monitor earthquakes at and above 2.0-magnitude in crowded and developed areas. In the rest of the country, quakes that measure at and above 3.0-magnitude will be monitored.

In May, 2008, an 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit Wenchuan, Sichuan province while a 7.1-magnitude quake jolted Yushu, in western Qinghai province, in April this year.

In the latest case, a magnitude-4.4 quake hit the border area of Southwest China's Guizhou province and southern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on September 18.

Hours later, a magnitude-3.1 quake hit Kunming city, capital of southwestern Yunnan province.