Mid-Day

But one farmer in China believes he is ready for any eventuality after building seven emergency survival pods. Liu Qiyuan created the fibreglass shells — dubbed Noah’s Ark — after being inspired by the apocalyptic Hollywood movie 2012.

Building them around a steel frame in a yard at his home in the village of Qiantun, Hebei province, south of Beijing, he says the pods can offer life-saving shelter during natural disasters such as tsunamis and hurricanes.

Preparing for the worst: Liu Qiyuan has created seven survival pods dubbed as Noah’s Ark. The creations are made of fibreglass and are able to float on water. The airtight spheres with varying interiors contain oxygen tanks and seatbelts with space for around 14 people, and are designed to remain upright when in water. Pics/AFP

The pods are able to float on water and some of have their own propulsion. The airtight spheres with varying interiors contain oxygen tanks and seatbelts with space for around 14 people, and are designed to remain upright when in water.

He hopes that his creations will be adopted by government departments and international organisations for use in the event of tsunamis and earthquakes.

They are heavy and four men required to help pulley them when he needs to move them across the yard.