Google said its earthquake alert system missed millions

In a startling revelation, Google has acknowledged that its Android-based earthquake early warning system (AEA) fell short during the catastrophic earthquakes that struck Turkey in February 2023 failing to alert nearly 10 million people who were within the immediate danger zone.

The 7.8 magnitude tremor, which devastated southeastern Turkey in the early morning hours of February 6, claimed over 55,000 lives and injured more than 100,000 people. Many victims were asleep when their buildings collapsed.

Despite having its system fully active at the time, Google issued only 469 high-priority “Take Action” alerts for the initial quake. These alerts are designed to emit a loud, overriding alarm that can potentially save lives by providing up to 35 seconds of advance warning.

In contrast, over 500,000 users received a lower-tier “Be Aware” alert, which simply notifies users of mild tremors and does not bypass phone settings like Do Not Disturb.

Previously, Google had claimed the system functioned effectively. However, internal evaluations and recent scientific publications reveal that the alert system drastically underestimated the earthquake’s magnitude, initially calculating it as between 4.5 and 4.9—far from the actual 7.8 magnitude.

Google’s AEA uses sensors in Android devices to detect seismic activity and distribute alerts quickly. With Android phones making up more than 70% of Turkey’s mobile devices, the potential reach of the system was enormous—but ultimately unfulfilled during the disaster.

Months of BBC investigation across affected cities failed to uncover anyone who had received a life-saving Take Action alert before the quake. A second major earthquake later that day was also misjudged, though it generated over 8,000 high-priority alerts.

In a paper published in the journal Science, Google’s researchers cited flaws in the system’s detection algorithms. A post-event simulation using revised methods later showed that the quake should have triggered 10 million Take Action alerts and another 67 million Be Aware notifications.

“Each major quake teaches us how to fine-tune our system further,” a Google spokesperson said.

Experts, however, have expressed concern over the delayed transparency. Dr. Elizabeth Reddy of the Colorado School of Mines criticized the time it took for these findings to surface, saying, “It’s incredibly disheartening. Lives were lost, and this should’ve been addressed much sooner.”

Though Google emphasizes that its alerts are meant to supplement—not replace—national warning systems, some seismologists caution against over-reliance on unverified tech.

“Transparency is vital,” said Harold Tobin, Director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. “There’s a risk that some governments may assume Google’s system is enough and forego investing in their own infrastructure.”

Google says improvements have been made, and AEA now operates in 98 countries. The company has not yet responded to inquiries about how the system performed during Myanmar’s 2025 earthquake.