BEIJING - A newly-launched geographical information database will better assist rescue work in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region in the wake of natural disasters, the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (SBSM) announced on Friday.

The database, which took three years to build, will provide detailed and accurate geographical information for rescue operations after major disasters such as earthquakes, mudslides, fire and road accidents, the bureau said.

The database could provide quick post-disaster assistance such as locating the disaster and analyzing the data.

The SBSM said the database is vital to disaster relief work in Tibet, which is prone to natural disasters due to its fragile geologic conditions.