When a magnitude-7.9 earthquake rocked Myanmar on March 28, China swiftly deployed 14 satellites to capture high-resolution imagery of the affected regions in support of disaster response. This rapid deployment helped identify over 480 suspected disaster sites within a 120-kilometer radius of the epicenter near Mandalay.
Earlier in the year, when communication were cut off due to the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Dingri County in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region on January 7, China’s carrier service provider deployed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) functioning as airborne base stations to establish emergency communication networks.
As May 12 marks China’s National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Day, more technological innovations have enhanced the nation’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to natural disasters while providing critical assistance to international humanitarian activities.
Satellite system: Strengthening early warning and monitoring
China’s Fengyun meteorological satellites now serve global disaster prevention efforts. With nine satellites currently operational in orbit, they provide comprehensive coverage and high-resolution data essential for weather forecasting and early warning systems.
According to the China Meteorological Administration, these satellites have provided data and products to 133 countries and regions as of April, supporting weather forecasting, climate prediction, and natural disaster monitoring for developing countries in Asia and Africa.
Aerial innovations: Rapid response and communication restoration
China’s advancements in aerial technology have bolstered its rapid disaster response. China’s independently developed AG600 large amphibious firefighting aircraft is tailored to carry out rescue missions such as firefighting and maritime search and rescue in all types of terrain across the country.
After receiving its type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in April, it is slated to gain market acceptance and realize delivery soon.
Following the earthquake in Dingri County, the large civil UAV Wing Loong-2H was dispatched to assess disaster impact. Equipped with electro-optical sensors and synthetic aperture radar, the UAV transmitted high-resolution images and real-time data, facilitating targeted rescue operations.
UAVs have also been used in flood-prone regions. In the “Emergency Mission 2024” rescue drills in Zhejiang Province, UAVs, including the Wing Loong series, helped establish communication links in isolated areas, ensuring timely decision-making and rescue efforts.
Domestic large language models in disaster relief
Artificial intelligence and robotics are increasingly integrated into China’s disaster management strategies.
During the Myanmar earthquake, a language team leveraged the power of China’s in-house large language model (LLM) DeepSeek and developed a Chinese-Burmese-English translation system to assist Chinese rescue teams on the ground.
In addition, AI-driven systems facilitate rapid analysis of meteorological data, enhancing the accuracy of forecasts and early warnings.
In April, the Guangdong Meteorological Observatory launched the “15th Games meteorological AI assistant” in preparation for the 15th National Games. Powered by advanced LLMs such as DeepSeek and Alibaba’s Qwen, this assistant intelligently analyzes meteorological data and rapidly generates service recommendations for the events, ensuring timely and accurate weather-related information for the games.
