China Quake Agency Responds to False 7.7 Warning

The China Earthquake Administration has formally responded to a false earthquake warning issued by the Chengdu High-tech Disaster Mitigation Research Institute, clarifying the regulatory framework and public safety implications of the incident. The response comes after the institute pushed a 7.7-magnitude alert to users nationwide for what was actually a 4.7-magnitude earthquake in Sichuan Province.

On the morning of August 24, a 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck Changning County in Yibin City, Sichuan Province, at a focal depth of 5 kilometers. The official China Earthquake Early Warning Network produced an alert within 6 seconds, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.4, and pushed it to over 10 million users in the surrounding area via WeChat mini-programs, Huawei phones, Xiaomi phones, and dedicated earthquake warning terminals, according to Xinhua News.

The False Warning

Shortly after the quake, the Chengdu High-tech Disaster Mitigation Research Institute unilaterally used its self-built system to generate a “Sichuan Changning 7.7-magnitude” earthquake warning. The alert was pushed to users nationwide under the name of the “China Earthquake Early Warning Network” through Honor, vivo, and Meizu brand phones, as well as Xiaotiancai (Little Genius) watches, causing widespread public concern.

The institute issued an apology on the same day, acknowledging that the initial magnitude reading of 7.7 was the largest deviation in the 15 years since its earthquake warning network began serving the public in September 2011. The institute stated it would quickly identify the cause and improve its services, as reported by ITHome.

Regulatory Framework and Authorization

According to the China Earthquake Administration, earthquake warning information falls under seismic information, which must be uniformly released by earthquake departments under Article 52 of the Earthquake Prevention and Disaster Reduction Law. Third-party institutions can broadcast earthquake warning information only after passing technical evaluation and trial operation, and signing agreements with earthquake departments.

The administration noted that 30 market entities, including Huawei, Xiaomi, Tencent, and several broadcasting companies, have signed cooperation agreements to provide earthquake warning services. However, the Chengdu High-tech Disaster Mitigation Research Institute’s agreements, signed in 2023 and 2025, only covered Sichuan and Xinjiang regions, with information sources strictly limited to the China Earthquake Early Warning Network.

History of Violations

The institute has a documented history of broadcasting earthquake warning information without proper authorization. Since 2026, it has violated regulations multiple times in Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Shanxi, Henan, and other locations. Earthquake departments repeatedly summoned the institute for talks and required serious rectification. Due to its failure to correct these violations, the Sichuan Provincial Earthquake Administration terminated its broadcast agreement with the institute on July 22, 2026, as documented.

Regulatory Response and Measures

The administration outlined three key measures to strengthen oversight of third-party earthquake warning broadcasts. First, it is promoting amendments to the national disaster reduction law to add earthquake warning management provisions and developing technical standards and business regulations. Second, it is establishing a unified technical supervision platform to ensure full traceability and safety of services, along with a service negative list for prompt handling of violations. Third, it is maintaining a public-interest orientation, ensuring that earthquake departments do not charge third-party service providers and that cooperating entities do not charge the public for earthquake warning information.

Currently, 27 provinces including Sichuan, Chongqing, Guangdong, and Shaanxi have issued local regulations clearly stating that earthquake warning information must be uniformly released by provincial earthquake authorities, and no unit or individual may release warning information to the public without authorization.

Official Warning Channels

The public can receive official earthquake warning information through the China Earthquake Networks Center and provincial earthquake bureau official WeChat mini-programs, Huawei phones, Xiaomi phones, and dedicated earthquake warning terminals. In some areas including Sichuan, Yunnan, and Hebei, IPTV and broadcast TV channels also provide authoritative earthquake warning services.

Broader Context and Implications

The incident comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Chengdu High-tech Disaster Mitigation Research Institute. In July 2026, the institute faced public controversy over forced splash screen ads in its earthquake warning app and a “VIP acceleration channel” that allegedly prioritized warning delivery to paying users. The institute removed all splash screen ads on July 3 and issued a rectification announcement on July 15, as reported by Jiemian News.

This is not the first false warning from the institute. In April 2023, its system issued a false “Fujian Gutian 4.2-magnitude” earthquake warning when no earthquake of 3.0 or higher had occurred, attributing the error to communication interruptions at monitoring stations caused by heavy rainfall, according to ScienceNet.

What to Watch For

The incident highlights the critical importance of maintaining public trust in earthquake early warning systems, which are vital for saving lives in seismically active regions. The China Earthquake Administration’s firm response signals that unauthorized third-party broadcasting will face consequences, and the administration has committed to ensuring earthquake warning services remain free and public-interest oriented. As the regulatory framework continues to evolve, the key question will be how effectively oversight can balance the involvement of private sector expertise with the need for centralized, authoritative information dissemination.