Xinhua News Agency

New legislation effective 1 April 2010, will oblige Chinese authorities to develop emergency response plans and draw up preventative measures for severe weather disasters to reduce the loss of lives, reports Chinaview...

A statement issued by the the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China this week said that 'natural' disasters had left 1,528 people killed or missing in China in 2009, and caused more than 37 billion US dollars of direct economic loss.

'Our central and local governments have adopted a disaster reduction strategy covering the next 10 years or more. Long-term perspectives are very important in the successful promotion of issues like disaster warning and retrofitting houses' said Professor Kuwata of Kyoto University...

'If you are building a house, make sure your engineer follows earthquake resistant methods', UNDP Project Engineer for Earthquake Risk Reduction and Recovery Preparedness Project instructed visitors during the 12th Earthquake Safety Day exhibition...

The Tokyo Fire Department paraded firefighters, emergency medical service personnel, fast-response disaster teams and high-tech vehicles and appliances to promote public awareness of fire prevention, particularly triggered by earthquake, at its annual New Year event...

Several areas in the island nation of Fiji have been classified to be under 'meteorological' drought, according to the weather office in Fiji...

The new Global Positioning System (GPS) will be set up in four Myanmar cities lying on the country's main live fault, to monitor earthquakes. It will be operational by the end of this year, according to the seismological department...

Meeting in Japan on Saturday, China, Japan and South Korea agreed to collaborate on disaster preparedness and management by sharing information and technology on measures such as improving the earthquake resistance of buildings...