China launches awareness campaign on oceanic disaster reduction

Tsunami evacuation drills were held Thursday in Haikou, capital of south China's island province of Hainan, beginning a week of awareness campaign on oceanic disaster prevention and reduction.

The campaign will consist of video-clips, emergency drills and expert consultation, said the State Oceanic Administration (SOA).

Many of China's coastal cities are low-lying, and highly susceptible to flooding, tsunami and storm surges, according to an SOA statement.

Putting Hainan on center stage focuses cooperation and development in disaster reduction in the South China Sea region. Countries in the region already enjoy increasing cooperation in information and technology sharing in the field.

China has built a South China Sea tsunami early-warning center, which can issue warnings to the international community and countries in the region eight minutes after any earthquake that might trigger a tsunami.

(APD)