Xichang Earthquake, Sichuan: Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) Received the Early Warning 10 Seconds in Advance

On October 31, the reporter learned from Chengdu Institute of Care-Life (ICL) that a 5.1-magnitude earthquake happened in Xichang City, Sichuan Province at 16:29. The earthquake early warning system, jointly constructed by the Bureau of Earthquake Prevention and Disaster Mitigation in Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Liangshan and the Chengdu Institute of Care-Life (ICL), successfully predicted the earthquake. The early warning magnitude was 5.1. Xichang City in Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Liangshan received an early warning 2 seconds in advance, Panzhihua received the warning 31 seconds ahead, and Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) received the early warning 10 seconds in advance.

According to statistics, the earthquake early warning system has issued warnings 0 to 37 seconds in advance to altogether 20 schools in 5 cities, including Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Liangshan in Sichuan Province, Panzhihua City of Sichuan Province, Ya’an City of Sichuan Province, Lijiang City of Yunnan Province and Zhaotong City of Yunnan Province. It has also issued warnings 17 to 33 seconds in advance to two rural towns in Yongshan County, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province, and Miyi County, Panzhihua City, Sichuan Province. Moreover, it has provided earthquake warning information for institutions such as China Earthquake Networks Center, National Early Warning Information Release Center, and National Disaster Reduction Center. After the earthquake, the system provided emergency data such as the intensity quick report chart to the Earthquake and Emergency departments.

Wang Tun, director of the Key Laboratory of Earthquake Early Warning in Sichuan Province and Chengdu Institute of Care-Life (ICL), said that the mainland earthquake warning network, which is jointly constructed by the Chengdu Institute of Care-Life (ICL) and the Earthquake Department, covers an area of 2.2 million square kilometers and a population of 90% in the domestic earthquake zone. The network has successfully warned 46 destructive earthquakes including Lushan 7.0-magnitude earthquake, Ludian 6.5-magnitude earthquake, and Jiuzhaigou 7.0-magnitude earthquake.