Chinese seismic experts don't expect earthquake during Beijing Olympics

Beijing, July 20 : China's seismic experts have said that they don't expect earthquakes to hit the country during the Olympic Games to be held in Beijing next month.

Addressing a press conference, Deputy Director of the China Earthquake Networks Center Zhang Xiaodong said, "The monitoring network in the area around Beijing is the most extensive in the country. It can detect an earthquake as light as magnitude-1.0."

"In an area of 150,000 square kilometers between 38.5 and 41 north latitude as well as between 113 and 120 east longitude, there are 107 earthquake monitoring stations, the highest density network in China," Zhang said.

He further added, "Our experts are working round the clock to monitor the geophysical changes and analyse the data we collect."

Deputy Director of the China Earthquake Administration (CEA) Yin Chaomin said, "China Earthquake Administration began work with the Beijing city government and the Beijing Organising Committee of the 29th Olympic Games (BOCOG) to develop contingency plans in case of earthquakes of different magnitude three years ago."

"Contingency plans are made about earthquake reporting, monitoring on its magnitude and information announcement," Chaomin said and added, "We even built several new monitoring stations near Beijing and another six co-host cities."

The Xinhua quoted Chaomin, as saying, "Beijing has built 31 refuges that are able to hold 3 million people."

He further added, "The Olympic stadiums and many buildings in Beijing are able to stand earthquakes of magnitude-8. There will not be big problems."

ANI