The Central Weather Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of China announced today that the Public Warning System (PWS) for Earthquake Disaster Prevention has added new alert conditions to enhance the public’s ability to respond to earthquakes. Starting from September 1st, the bureau will introduce a new early warning mechanism for larger earthquakes with estimated magnitudes of 6.5 or above and potential intensity levels of 3 or above, aiming to better safeguard the lives and properties of the people comprehensively.
This newly added feature in the earthquake early warning system is designed to provide rapid alerts to the public immediately after a strong earthquake occurs. This “Earthquake Early Warning” service falls under the Central Weather Bureau’s “Strong Motion Immediate Alarm” service, utilizing cell broadcast technology within the mobile communication system to deliver warning messages to the public within seconds to tens of seconds after a strong earthquake strikes.
These crucial seconds to tens of seconds are of paramount importance for the public to take emergency actions, enabling everyone to react promptly. For instance, individuals indoors should quickly seek cover and move away from windows and hanging objects that may fall easily; those outdoors should find open spaces to crouch down and protect their heads; while drivers should slow down, pull over to the side of the road, and wait until the earthquake subsides before resuming driving.
Considering that larger earthquakes with magnitudes of 6.5 or above often come with longer shaking durations and powerful low-frequency energy, especially noticeable for occupants in tall buildings, the Central Weather Bureau has added criteria for issuing earthquake early warnings for earthquakes with estimated magnitudes of 6.5 or above. This adjustment aims to cover more earthquake scenarios, enhance the coverage of warning broadcasts, improve the accuracy of early warnings, and prevent any missed alerts.
With the inclusion of the new criteria, the conditions for issuing the “Earthquake Early Warning” through the Public Warning System now include: “When the earthquake early warning system predicts a magnitude 5.0 or above earthquake, targeting residents of counties with estimated intensities of 4 or above; or predicts a magnitude 6.5 or above earthquake with potential intensities of 3 or above for residents in certain counties.”
Apart from continuously improving the accuracy of the earthquake early warning system, the Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan will also enhance earthquake disaster prevention education to increase public awareness of earthquake-related knowledge. They encourage active participation in disaster drills, urging everyone to cooperate with the government’s disaster prevention policies to ensure adequate preparedness for themselves and their families.
The Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan reiterates the call for leveraging technological advancements and collective efforts to effectively reduce the risk of earthquake disasters, contributing together to the safety and resilience of Taiwan.