Shanghai is planning to establish a professional earthquake rescue team next year to improve its overall ability to deal with natural disasters, officials of Shanghai Seismological Bureau said on Tuesday.

Although Shanghai is not located in an earthquake-prone area, the bureau said the team will also be deployed to rescue people from collapsed buildings as well as other disasters and accidents.

"Establishing a professional earthquake rescue team is necessary for metropolises like Shanghai," Zhu Yuanqing, the bureau's vice director, said on Tuesday.

Although it is unclear how many members the new team will recruit, the bureau plans to divide it into four specific task forces.

They include rescue strategy experts, rescue personnel, medical specialists and a communication team sustaining contact between the rescuers and the command center.

Specialists are also suggesting the city build special parks where people can gather in case of emergencies.

(Shanghai Daily December 23, 2004)