Google Recognizes Inadequacy of Alert System in Effectively Notifying About Turkey’s 2023 Earthquake
The system inaccurately assessed the strength of the initial earthquake, resulting in a milder alert for numerous individuals.
Essential information
- Google acknowledged in a recent report that its earthquake warning system did not alert 10 million individuals in Turkey during the 2023 earthquake.
- The report indicated that only 469 high-level “Take Action” alerts were distributed prior to the initial 7.8 magnitude quake.
- It appears that Google’s system misjudged the earthquake’s strength, sending roughly 500,000 users a low-priority “Be Aware” notification.
- Google has since been enhancing its alert system’s accuracy, aligning it more closely with the actual earthquake magnitude.
A recent BBC report reveals that Google seems to have conceded that its earthquake alert system failed to notify users in Turkey about the February 2023 earthquake, which caused significant devastation and loss of life.
Ideally, approximately 10 million Android users within 98 miles of the epicenter were supposed to receive Google’s highest level “Take Action” alert intended for significant earthquakes.
This alert would take over the phone’s display and emit a loud, urgent sound, even overriding “Do Not Disturb” settings — providing up to 35 seconds of lead time to seek safety. Nevertheless, merely 469 high-level “Take Action” warnings were dispatched before the first 7.8 magnitude quake.
