Chengdu Lab Apologizes for Overstated Earthquake Alert That Caused Panic
A Chengdu research institute apologized after its early earthquake alert for a Sichuan tremor was far higher than the official magnitude, triggering public alarm.
A disaster-reduction laboratory in Chengdu has issued an apology after its initial earthquake alert for a tremor in Sichuan province was significantly higher than the magnitude reported by official monitoring systems, causing brief public alarm.
The China Earthquake Networks Center recorded a 4.7 magnitude quake striking Yibin, in southwestern Sichuan, at 8:26 a.m. local time on Monday. However, the Institute of Care-Life, a Chengdu-based research body, sent out an alert of 7.7 magnitude just five seconds after the event.
The institute explained that its network had revised the estimate downward within seconds of the initial reading — to 6.4 at the sixth second, 3.7 at the seventh, 4.1 at the eighth, and finally 3.9 by the sixteenth second. Despite the rapid corrections, the initial high figure had already spread, causing anxiety among residents.
In a statement, the institute said it would investigate the cause of the deviation as soon as possible to improve the accuracy of its alert services. State-backed media reported that the false alarm had triggered panic among many users who received the notification.