Google failed to warn 10M of Turkey earthquake

9 months ago

Google's earthquake early warning system failed to accurately alert people during Turkey's deadly 2023 earthquake.
Only 469 'Take Action' warnings were sent out for the first 7.8 magnitude quake, despite 10 million people being within the alert range.
Google admitted the system underestimated the earthquake's strength, initially estimating it at 4.5-4.9 MMS instead of the actual 7.8.
The system sent out lower-level 'Be Aware' warnings to half a million people, which are less prominent and do not override 'Do Not Disturb' settings.
Google has since improved the algorithm, simulating the earthquake again and generating 10 million 'Take Action' alerts in the test.
Experts express frustration over the delay in releasing information about the system's failure, given the high death toll.
Google emphasizes that its system is supplementary and not a replacement for national earthquake warning systems.
Scientists worry that countries may rely too heavily on untested technology for critical alerts.
Google's Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA) system is operational in 98 countries, but its performance in the 2025 Myanmar earthquake remains unclear.

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