Shenzhen metro launches emergency drill

Shenzhen will have an emergency drill on Sept 13 at the metro's Line 2 to test the city's emergency capability.

Li Yikang, deputy secretary general of the Shenzhen government and director of the city's emergency management office, said at a press conference on Sept 6 that the drill will happen some time in the afternoon at Wanxia station.

The drill will simulate a fire breaking out, and departments including the traffic management and the police will practice emergency evacuation, rescue and information release, he said.

Li said the exact time of the drill would not be given in advance in order to test the city's ability to react to situations that might happen in a metro emergency.

He said it will be the first time for Shenzhen to have such a drill during metro operating hours, and is rare nationwide. More than 1,000 people, 100 vehicles and two helicopters will participate in the drill.

Shenzhen now has four metro lines and expects to have 10 lines by 2016.