Experts aim to improve warning collaboration

Meteorologists from across Asia attended an online workshop on Thursday to identify better ways to cooperate on improving regional disaster warning capabilities.

Experts from more than 20 countries, regions and international organizations, including China, Thailand, Myanmar and Tajikistan, took part in the Workshop on Regional Disaster Warning Capacity Enhancement in Asia organized by the China Meteorological Administration.

Cao Zhiyu, senior engineer with the National Early Warning Center, addressed some shortfalls in warning capabilities for events such as typhoons, heavy rainstorms and epidemics. He said that it is necessary to improve the ability to send accurate alerts to each household.

"However, not enough for the alert service to cover remote rural mountainous and rural areas of China," he told the workshop. He added that fast-developing new technology has changed the traditional information release pattern, so some warning functions may be out of date.

"The center is ready to cooperate with media outlets including social media and smartphone applications to release information and warnings to the public," Cao said. "Warning systems, techniques, products and ideas should be shared with developing countries."