Regulations on the Administration of Earthquake Prediction

(1998年12月17日中华人民共和国国务院令第255号发布　自发布之日起施行)

(Promulgated by Decree No. 255 of the State Council of the People's Republic of China on December 17, 1998, and effective as of the date of promulgation)

为了加强对地震预报的管理，规范发布地震预报行为，根据《中华人民共和国防震减灾法》，制定本条例。

These Regulations are formulated in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters to strengthen the administration of earthquake prediction and standardize the release of earthquake predictions.

在中华人民共和国境内从事地震预报活动，必须遵守本条例。

Any person engaged in earthquake prediction activities within the territory of the People's Republic of China must comply with these Regulations.

地震预报包括下列类型：

Earthquake prediction includes the following types:

(一)地震长期预报，是指对未来10年内可能发生破坏性地震的地域的预报；

(1) Long-term earthquake prediction refers to the prediction of areas where destructive earthquakes may occur within the next 10 years;

(二)地震中期预报，是指对未来一二年内可能发生破坏性地震的地域和强度的预报；

(2) Medium-term earthquake prediction refers to the prediction of areas and magnitudes where destructive earthquakes may occur within the next one to two years;

(三)地震短期预报，是指对3个月内将要发生地震的时间、地点、震级的预报；

(3) Short-term earthquake prediction refers to the prediction of the time, location, and magnitude of an earthquake that will occur within three months;

(四)临震预报，是指对10日内将要发生地震的时间、地点、震级的预报。

(4) Imminent earthquake prediction refers to the prediction of the time, location, and magnitude of an earthquake that will occur within 10 days.

国家鼓励和扶持地震预报的科学技术研究，提高地震预报水平。

The State encourages and supports scientific and technological research on earthquake prediction to improve the level of earthquake prediction.

对在地震预报工作中做出突出贡献或者显著成绩的单位和个人，给予奖励。

Units and individuals that have made outstanding contributions or significant achievements in earthquake prediction work shall be rewarded.

国务院地震工作主管部门和县级以上地方人民政府负责管理地震工作的机构，应当加强地震预测工作。

The competent department of earthquake affairs under the State Council and the institutions responsible for earthquake administration under local people's governments at or above the county level shall strengthen earthquake prediction work.

任何单位和个人根据地震观测资料和研究结果提出的地震预测意见，应当向所在地或者所预测地区的县级以上地方人民政府负责管理地震工作的机构书面报告，也可以直接向国务院地震工作主管部门书面报告，不得向社会散布。

Any unit or individual that proposes an earthquake prediction opinion based on seismic observation data and research results shall submit a written report to the institution responsible for earthquake administration under the local people's government at or above the county level in the location or the predicted area, or may directly submit a written report to the competent department of earthquake affairs under the State Council, and shall not disseminate it to the public.

任何单位和个人不得向国(境)外提出地震预测意见；但是，以长期、中期地震活动趋势研究成果进行学术交流的除外。

No unit or individual may submit earthquake prediction opinions to foreign countries (regions); however, academic exchanges based on long-term and medium-term earthquake activity trend research results are excluded.

任何单位和个人观察到与地震有关的异常现象时，应当及时向所在地的县级以上地方人民政府负责管理地震工作的机构报告。

Any unit or individual that observes abnormal phenomena related to earthquakes shall promptly report to the institution responsible for earthquake administration under the local people's government at or above the county level.

国务院地震工作主管部门和省、自治区、直辖市人民政府负责管理地震工作的机构应当组织召开地震震情会商会，对各种地震预测意见和与地震有关的异常现象进行综合分析研究，形成地震预报意见。

The competent department of earthquake affairs under the State Council and the institutions responsible for earthquake administration under the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall organize earthquake situation consultation meetings to conduct comprehensive analysis and research on various earthquake prediction opinions and abnormal phenomena related to earthquakes, and form earthquake prediction opinions.

市、县人民政府负责管理地震工作的机构可以组织召开地震震情会商会，形成地震预报意见，向省、自治区、直辖市人民政府负责管理地震工作的机构报告。

The institutions responsible for earthquake administration under the people's governments of cities and counties may organize earthquake situation consultation meetings to form earthquake prediction opinions and report them to the institutions responsible for earthquake administration under the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government.

地震预报意见实行评审制度。评审包括下列内容：

A review system shall be implemented for earthquake prediction opinions. The review includes the following content:

(一)地震预报意见的科学性、可能性；

(1) The scientific nature and possibility of the earthquake prediction opinion;

(二)地震预报的发布形式；

(2) The form of release of the earthquake prediction;

(三)地震预报发布后可能产生的社会、经济影响。

(3) The social and economic impacts that may arise after the release of the earthquake prediction.

国务院地震工作主管部门应当组织有关专家，对下列地震预报意见进行评审，并将评审结果报国务院：

The competent department of earthquake affairs under the State Council shall organize relevant experts to review the following earthquake prediction opinions and report the review results to the State Council:

(一)全国地震震情会商会形成的地震预报意见；

(1) Earthquake prediction opinions formed at national earthquake situation consultation meetings;

(二)省、自治区、直辖市地震震情会商会形成的可能发生严重破坏性地震的地震预报意见。

(2) Earthquake prediction opinions formed by provincial, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government earthquake situation consultation meetings that may result in severe destructive earthquakes.

省、自治区、直辖市人民政府负责管理地震工作的机构应当组织有关专家，对下列地震预报意见进行评审，并将评审结果向省、自治区、直辖市人民政府和国务院地震工作主管部门报告：

The institution responsible for earthquake management under the people's government of a province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government shall organize relevant experts to review the following earthquake prediction opinions and report the review results to the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government and the competent department for earthquake affairs under the State Council:

(一)本省、自治区、直辖市地震震情会商会形成的地震预报意见；

(1) Earthquake prediction opinions formed by the provincial, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government earthquake situation consultation meetings;

(二)市、县地震震情会商会形成的地震预报意见。

(2) Earthquake prediction opinions formed by city or county earthquake situation consultation meetings.

省、自治区、直辖市人民政府负责管理地震工作的机构，对可能发生严重破坏性地震的地震预报意见，应当先报经国务院地震工作主管部门评审后，再向本级人民政府报告。

For earthquake prediction opinions that may result in severe destructive earthquakes, the institution responsible for earthquake management under the people's government of a province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government shall first submit them to the competent department for earthquake affairs under the State Council for review before reporting to the people's government at the same level.

省、自治区、直辖市人民政府负责管理地震工作的机构，在震情跟踪会商中，根据明显临震异常形成的临震预报意见，在紧急情况下，可以不经评审，直接报本级人民政府，并报国务院地震工作主管部门。

If, during earthquake situation tracking consultations, the institution responsible for earthquake management under the people's government of a province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government forms an imminent earthquake prediction opinion based on obvious imminent earthquake anomalies, in an emergency, it may directly report to the people's government at the same level without review, and simultaneously report to the competent department for earthquake affairs under the State Council.

任何单位和个人不得向社会散布地震预报意见及其评审结果。

No unit or individual may disseminate earthquake prediction opinions or their review results to the public.

国家对地震预报实行统一发布制度。

The state implements a unified release system for earthquake predictions.

全国性的地震长期预报和地震中期预报，由国务院发布。

National long-term earthquake predictions and medium-term earthquake predictions shall be released by the State Council.

省、自治区、直辖市行政区域内的地震长期预报、地震中期预报、地震短期预报和临震预报，由省、自治区、直辖市人民政府发布。

Long-term earthquake predictions, medium-term earthquake predictions, short-term earthquake predictions, and imminent earthquake predictions within the administrative region of a province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government shall be released by the people's government of that province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government.

新闻媒体刊登或者播发地震预报消息，必须依照本条例的规定，以国务院或者省、自治区、直辖市人民政府发布的地震预报为准。

When news media publish or broadcast earthquake prediction information, they must, in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, base it on the earthquake predictions released by the State Council or the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government.

已经发布地震短期预报的地区，如果发现明显临震异常，在紧急情况下，当地市、县人民政府可以发布48小时之内的临震预报，并同时向省、自治区、直辖市人民政府及其负责管理地震工作的机构和国务院地震工作主管部门报告。

In areas where a short-term earthquake prediction has been issued, if obvious imminent earthquake anomalies are discovered, in an emergency, the local city or county people's government may issue an imminent earthquake prediction valid for 48 hours, and simultaneously report to the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government, its institution responsible for earthquake management, and the competent department for earthquake affairs under the State Council.

地震短期预报和临震预报在发布预报的时域、地域内有效。预报期内未发生地震的，原发布机关应当做出撤销或者延期的决定，向社会公布，并妥善处理善后事宜。

Short-term earthquake predictions and imminent earthquake predictions are valid within the time frame and region specified in the release. If no earthquake occurs within the predicted period, the original issuing authority shall make a decision to cancel or extend the prediction, announce it to the public, and properly handle follow-up matters.

发生地震谣言，扰乱社会正常秩序时，国务院地震工作主管部门和县级以上地方人民政府负责管理地震工作的机构应当采取措施，迅速予以澄清，其他有关部门应当给予配合、协助。

When earthquake rumors occur, disrupting normal social order, the competent department for earthquake affairs under the State Council and the institutions responsible for earthquake management under local people's governments at or above the county level shall take measures to promptly clarify the situation, and other relevant departments shall provide cooperation and assistance.

从事地震工作的专业人员违反本条例规定，擅自向社会散布地震预测意见、地震预报意见及其评审结果的，依法给予行政处分。

If professionals engaged in earthquake work violate the provisions of these Regulations by unauthorized dissemination of earthquake prediction opinions, earthquake prediction opinions, or their review results to the public, they shall be given administrative sanctions according to law.

违反本条例规定，制造地震谣言，扰乱社会正常秩序的，依法给予治安管理处罚。

Anyone who, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, fabricates earthquake rumors and disrupts normal social order shall be given public security penalties according to law.

违反本条例规定，向国(境)外提出地震预测意见的，由国务院地震工作主管部门给予警告，并可以由其所在单位根据造成的不同后果依法给予纪律处分。

Anyone who, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, submits earthquake prediction opinions to foreign countries (regions) shall be given a warning by the competent department for earthquake affairs under the State Council, and may also be given disciplinary sanctions by their unit according to law based on the consequences.

从事地震工作的国家工作人员玩忽职守，构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任；尚不构成犯罪的，依法给予行政处分。

If state personnel engaged in earthquake work neglect their duties, constituting a crime, they shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to law; if the act does not constitute a crime, they shall be given administrative sanctions according to law.

震后地震趋势判定公告的权限和程序，由国务院地震工作主管部门制定。

The authority and procedures for announcing post-earthquake trend judgments shall be formulated by the competent department for earthquake affairs under the State Council.

北京市的地震短期预报和临震预报，由国务院地震工作主管部门和北京市人民政府负责管理地震工作的机构，组织召开地震震情会商会，提出地震预报意见，经国务院地震工作主管部门组织评审后，报国务院批准，由北京市人民政府发布。

For short-term earthquake predictions and imminent earthquake predictions in Beijing, the competent department for earthquake affairs under the State Council and the institution responsible for earthquake management under the Beijing Municipal People's Government shall organize earthquake situation consultation meetings to formulate earthquake prediction opinions. After review by the competent department for earthquake affairs under the State Council, the opinions shall be reported to the State Council for approval and released by the Beijing Municipal People's Government.

本条例自发布之日起施行。1988年6月7日国务院批准、1988年8月9日国家地震局发布的《发布地震预报的规定》同时废止。

These Regulations shall come into effect as of the date of promulgation. The Provisions on the Release of Earthquake Predictions approved by the State Council on June 7, 1988, and promulgated by the State Seismological Bureau on August 9, 1988, shall be simultaneously abolished.