China Mobilizes Level II, IV Responses After 6.3 Quake Kills 1 in Haixi

Q: What does China's disaster handbook reveal about surviving the first critical seconds of a major earthquake?

China’s disaster handbook says the first moments of a major quake are a “Golden 12 Seconds” in which survival depends on immediate shock avoidance, not panic or flight. According to the Ministry of Emergency Management’s 2026 *Practical Handbook for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation*, people should protect themselves where they are as soon as shaking starts. The guidance aligns with the widely accepted “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” method: drop to the ground to avoid being thrown over, take cover under sturdy furniture if possible, and protect the head and neck while holding on until the shaking stops. The handbook stresses correct posture and rapid judgment in those opening seconds. If no table or desk is nearby, people should move next to an interior wall or safer spot away from windows, glass, shelves, and other objects that can fall. Running outside during strong shaking is discouraged because debris from facades, glass, and power lines can be more dangerous than staying put. It also warns that survival does not end with the main shock. Aftershocks can follow quickly, as seen in Qinghai, where a 5.4 aftershock was recorded. Once the shaking stops, people should leave damaged buildings carefully, stay clear of unstable structures, and, if trapped, conserve energy and use a whistle or text messages to signal for help. The handbook’s core message is simple: in a major earthquake, the safest response in the first critical seconds is fast self-protection, not escape.

3 articles · Updated · The Hindu · Jun 16

One person was killed and four injured after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Haixi prefecture in Qinghai at 5:06 p.m. local time, with the epicenter at a depth of 10 km.
Qinghai activated a Level II provincial emergency response by 6:10 p.m., while the State Council relief headquarters and emergency ministry jointly launched a Level IV national response and sent work teams.
The Ministry of Emergency Management mobilized rescue forces to search for trapped people, dispatched relief supplies and intensified seismic monitoring, tracking and damage assessment.
Coal mine operators near the epicenter evacuated all on-duty staff, and inspections were still underway to determine whether casualties and losses would rise.