UN okays South China Sea tsunami warning centre

China's proposal to build a South China Sea tsunami early-warning centre has been approved by a UN agency, the country's State Oceanic Administration announced Thursday.

The centre will monitor an area encompassing the South China, Sulu and Sulawesi seas, bordering nine countries, Xinhua reported citing the administration.

The region used to rely on tsunami alert centres located in the US and Japan.

The proposal was passed at an assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC/Unesco).

China's National Marine Environmental Forecasting Centre will be responsible for building the centre.