Google has admitted that its Android Earthquake Alerts System failed to adequately alert millions in the impact zone, two years after twin earthquakes rocked sections of Turkey and Syria, killing around 55,000 people in Turkey and over 5,000 in Syria.
Google acknowledged that during the February 6, 2023 disaster, its system failed to provide precise or widespread alerts to the approximately 10 million people who lived in close vicinity to the epicenter, according to a BBC investigation.
What Happened?
Early in the morning, two powerful earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.8 and 7.7 shook the area. The majority of the occupants were asleep when the first one occurred, at 4:17 a.m. According to experts, hundreds of lives would have been saved if the Take Action alert—the system’s most critical warning—had been correctly issued.
But during the first earthquake, Google only issued 469 Take Action alerts. A lower-level Be Aware alert, usually intended for mild to moderate shaking, was sent to an additional 500,000 people. In actuality, there was significant ground displacement within tens of millions.
Google acknowledged that the highest-level alert, which may have provided a 35-second lead time—crucial seconds for survival—could have reached up to 10 million individuals within 98 miles of the epicenter.
Why Did It Fail?
Researchers at Google claimed that their system miscalculated the magnitude of the earthquake, first recording ground shaking at only 4.5 to 4.9 magnitude, which is far less than the later-confirmed 7.8 magnitude.
Relying on information gathered from thousands of Android phones, the system was unable to process the intensity fast enough to initiate full-scale alarms.
They also miscalculated the second large earthquake that occurred shortly after. Four million Be Aware notifications reached devices, still considerably less than required, and little over 8,000 Take Action warnings were sent.
Google s Response
Following the incident, Google acknowledged that its algorithm had errors and claimed to have fixed them. According to the BBC, the system was able to transmit 10 million Take Action messages and 67 million Be Aware alerts during subsequent simulations under comparable circumstances following internal testing and modifications.
The Android Earthquake Alerts System uses information from cell phones, which function as tiny seismometers, to identify tremors. When functioning properly, it has the ability to loudly announce emergencies and override Do Not Disturb settings.
The 2023 earthquake emphasizes the urgent need for precise detection and prompt alarms, particularly in areas where natural disasters occur with little to no notice, even when the technology shows promise.
