Google’s Earthquake Alert System Under Scrutiny Following Turkey Disaster

Google's earthquake early warning system, crucial during Turkey's devastating quakes, fell short by not sending timely alerts to millions, prompting an investigation into the technology's efficacy.

Google's earthquake early warning system has come under intense scrutiny following its inadequate response during the catastrophic earthquakes that struck Turkey in 2023. According to Google, their system failed to send alerts to nearly ten million individuals within a 98-mile radius of the quake's epicenter, despite being equipped to issue critical warnings. Instead, only 469 high-priority "Take Action" alerts were dispatched for the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, barely notifying a fraction of those potentially at risk.

The technology, embedded within Android devices—which dominate Turkey's mobile phone market—was intended to give users up to 35 seconds of warning to seek safety. However, reports indicate that around half a million lower-level warnings were sent out, focusing on lighter shaking, which failed to attract considerable attention.

The tragedy unfolded on February 6, 2023, resulting in over 55,000 deaths and more than 100,000 injuries, as many people found themselves asleep when the quakes struck. In the aftermath, Google revealed that their system underestimated the severity of the quakes. Initially, the alerts misunderstood the tremors, gauging them between 4.5 and 4.9 on the Moment Magnitude Scale when the actual reading reached 7.8.

Google spokespersons remarked on the system's continuous improvements based on lessons learned from such catastrophic events. The Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA) system functions by leveraging a multitude of mobile phones that detect seismic activity, with the most serious warnings overriding Do Not Disturb settings to ensure maximum reach.

In an attempt to analyze the warning system's performance, the BBC attempted to locate individuals who received the more serious alerts prior to the earthquake—finding no one. Google's researchers subsequently redesigned the alert algorithms and simulated the initial quake, resulting in about 10 million 'Take Action' alerts being issued.

Experts expressed dissatisfaction with the duration it took Google to publicly acknowledge the system's limitations and its inability to provide adequate warnings during such a critical event. Concerns have been raised about the potential for reliance on unproven technologies as substitutes for national emergency systems.

With the AEA system having been implemented in 98 countries, its future efficacy remains in question, especially as the BBC awaits responses concerning the system's performance during other earthquakes, such as one that occurred in Myanmar in 2025.