Accurate risk assessments and timely evacuations before disasters strike are essential to preventing casualties, a Chinese emergency management official said on Monday, citing a recent mudslide in East China's Jiangxi province that damaged homes and roads but caused no casualties.
Zhu Jiangping, head of the emergency management bureau of Shangyou county in Ganzhou, said the incident highlighted the importance of identifying potential hazards early, responding to warning signs and relocating residents before a disaster occurs.
Zhu, who has spent much of his career on the front lines of emergency response, was among five nationally recognized emergency management and rescue personnel invited to share their experiences at a media event hosted by the Ministry of Emergency Management.
He recalled how local authorities reassessed potential risks after mudslides and slope failures occurred in nearby areas in early September.
Field inspections revealed that several buildings in the county's Gaofeng village, including the village committee offices and a row of low-lying homes opposite them, had not been classified as high-risk locations. Authorities subsequently expanded the designated danger zone to include these buildings and evacuated residents.
A mudslide struck the area at about 1 am on Sept 18, damaging roads and several houses, some of which collapsed. No casualties were reported because residents had been evacuated in advance, Zhu said.
The incident underscored the need to combine professional disaster risk assessments with the firsthand knowledge of grassroots officials, he added.
Frontline workers must identify potential dangers, village officials must be prepared to evacuate residents promptly, and county authorities must have the resolve to make timely decisions and take responsibility, Zhu said.
Looking ahead to the 2026-30 planning period, Zhu called for stronger coordination among county, township and village emergency response systems, as well as more effective implementation of a "6-3-1" early warning mechanism.
Under the mechanism, provincial authorities issue warnings six hours before anticipated risks, municipal authorities provide notifications three hours ahead, and county authorities directly alert those at risk one hour ahead.
He also stressed the need to strengthen emergency supplies, rescue resources and backup communications capabilities, particularly when electricity and telecommunications networks are disrupted.
Regular safety education and unannounced evacuation drills are equally important, Zhu said, noting that residents may not fully understand the danger or know how to respond when an emergency occurs.
He recalled that after the September mudslide, a resident thanked local authorities for providing safety education, conducting drills and establishing evacuation routes before the disaster.
The goal, Zhu said, is to encourage residents to take greater responsibility for their own safety rather than rely solely on authorities for protection.
