Last month, we reported on the enhanced earthquake early warning systems available in both QQ and WeChat. Although Beijing is not generally regarded as a high-risk area for earthquakes, tremors do occasionally occur. The capital experiences minor seismic activities now and then, typically manifesting as low-magnitude quakes that tend to be more surprising than harmful. Nonetheless, early warning systems are crucial for public safety, and today we will explain how to enable this feature in WeChat, as well as its functionalities.
**Setup**
To activate the feature in WeChat, search for the 中国地震台网 mini program (“China Earthquake Platform”).
Then, tap the button labeled “点击开启地震预警” (“Click To Activate Earthquake Warning”).
Next, grant permission for “地震预警通知” (“Earthquake Warning Notifications”) and “获取位置” (“Get Location”).
Following this step, you can add your current location to the “Places of Concern.” You can modify this entry or include additional locations.
If you've permitted it, earthquake alerts will also appear on your phone’s lock screen.
You can enable the WeChat translation function for better usability.
The earthquake data in the mini program is obtained from the China Seismological Network Center, the China Earthquake Warning Network, and the National Emergency Broadcasting.
**Features**
This mini program includes several features. At the bottom of the interface, you will find options for “Earthquake Warning,” “地震速报” (“Earthquake Summary”), and “预警管理” (“Early Warning Management”).
**预警管理 (Early Warning Management)**
This section is the setup page mentioned earlier, where you can manage the locations for which you want to receive earthquake early warnings. A brief video on how to use the mini program is also available, along with a feedback link.
**地震速报 (Earthquake Summary)**
In this section, you will find a list of recent earthquakes, including their magnitude, time of occurrence, location, focal depth, and distance from your current position. Clicking on an earthquake entry will lead you to a map with details about the earthquake, including its latitude and longitude, along with an option to share this information with friends or groups on WeChat.
**Earthquake Warning**
On the top portion of the screen, a map of China displays colored pins that indicate the locations of recent earthquakes. The bottom part lists recent earthquakes, detailing severity, location, distance from your current position, as well as the date and time they occurred. Tapping a pin on the map will direct you to that particular earthquake's entry in the list. Tapping an entry in the list will take you to another screen that provides a countdown in seconds before the quake is expected to occur, in addition to previously mentioned information. You can also check a timeline of earthquake details for that location, suggested safety measures, and review a playback of the earthquake warning.
There is also an option to access an “Earthquake Hazard Guide,” which presents recommended actions to take if you are inside a building, on a city street, or outdoors during an earthquake.
As usual, you can share this information with others on WeChat.
Will you utilize this upgraded earthquake early warning feature? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
READ: Beijing News You Might Have Missed This Week, Jun 7
Images: Abigail Weathers, Beijing Fabu
We explain the process of activating the earthquake early warning feature on WeChat and explore its capabilities.
