East China's Zhejiang province has introduced safety QR codes for better transmission of information during typhoons or flood situations. Residents can use a safety QR code and get their information registered through the mini-program on Chinese online payment giant Alipay.

Whenever a typhoon or flood strikes, red QR codes mean that affected residents should be transferred as soon as possible. They can also enter shelters and obtain relief materials using their QR code.

In addition to the safety QR code, Hangzhou, the capital city in the province, also promotes e-government through digital solutions.

Lin Xiangrui, deputy head of the police station in Linpu township in the city's Xiaoshan district, said that the local authority uses Alibaba's communication app DingTalk for targeted and timely transmission of flood information.

"The app helps us learn who has been informed, so we can take targeted measures to inform the rest, saving a lot of time by eliminating potential risks on the front line of flood control," Lin noted, adding that residents can also report potential safety risks via the app.

Just as the health QR code played an active role amid the COVID-19 epidemic at the beginning of the year, the safety code is also contributing to flood control efforts.