East China's Jiangsu Province revised its regulations for anti-quake measures and disaster relief on Tuesday, according to the legislative affairs office of the province.
According to a draft of the anti-quake measures, individuals and institutions are encouraged to report potentially quake-related abnormal occurrences to local governments at the county-level or higher. Residents can also report directly to the earthquake administration agencies of the central government.
Abnormal occurrences often cause unnecessary panic after spreading through the Internet. Sinkholes, the death of a swarm of bees and large number of toads crossing a street have been known to instigate a panic. The draft makes clear that the forecasting of earthquakes should be left to experts, and no one should disseminate claims of impending quakes.
Additionally, the draft stated the following construction projects must be appraised for quake resistance: railway networks, highways, large bridges, tunnels, airports, vital railway stations and terminals, waiting rooms of large bus stations, high-rise buildings over 80 meters, construction sites with an area of more than 20,000 square meters and gymnasiums with more than 6,000 seats.
Places such as schools and hospitals must be constructed with quake-proof standards higher than that of other buildings.