The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said Tuesday the country has begun establishing its emergency alert publishing system to ensure residents get timely warnings about natural disasters, accidents, public health events and social security issues.

The publishing system, a key part of the country's emergency response system, will be initially set up in 11 provincial-level regions, including Beijing, Hebei, Anhui, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said Sun Jian, director of the Public Weather Service Center of CMA.

The system is expected to be put into place nationwide at the end of 2012 and will cover 82 percent of the country's population, he said.

The publishing system will send alerts via radio, TV, text messages and other media to ensure residents can receive them within 10 minutes, Sun said.

Investment in the system has hit 136 million yuan ($21.45 million).

(Xinhua News Agency November 22, 2011)