China needs more efficient channel for issuing natural disaster warnings: official

China needs a more efficient channel to release early warnings for natural disasters, Zheng Guoguang, the head of the China Meteorological Administration, said on Wednesday.

"Coordination among different sectors is crucial in releasing early warnings," Zheng said at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office.

Zheng said that publicizing early warnings often takes longer than expected when using existing methods. Text messages take eight hours to reach all eight million of Beijing's mobile phone users, he said.

"We should establish a 'green channel' with a clear examination procedure for the accurate and timely release of the warnings," he said.

Zheng also mentioned the need to cooperate with the telecommunication sector, as authorities will need to utilize new technology in order to release the warnings in a more timely fashion.

About 85 percent of the country's population has access to early warning information at the present time, Zheng said.

Source: Xinhua

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