Saved by seconds

Early warning system helps residents near quake epicenter escape death

High school student Geng Fangdong was doing his homework in Zhaoyang district of Zhaotong, Yunnan province, on Sunday afternoon when his cellphone started beeping.

"It began to count down, from five to one, in Mandarin. Then it sounded off sirens repeatedly," said the 18-year-old from the Zhaotong No 1 High School.