Live in an earthquake-prone area? You might start getting alerts on your phone from Android Earthquake Alert System that is soon coming to smartphones. Google is expected to roll out this functionality worldwide in the coming months. They tested the first-stage rollout of Earthquake Detection in parts of the US last year and then in Greece and New Zealand earlier this year.
Google is now introducing the Android Earthquake Alerts System in more countries. And you may start seeing it you live in Turkey, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The alert system was first launched in 2020. To help people in affected areas get alerts seconds before an earthquake hits.
Android Earthquake Alert System
According to the initial reports this alert system uses accelerometers built into most Android smartphones to detect seismic waves that indicate an earthquake. If the phone detects such shaking or vibrations, it sends a signal to Google’s earthquake detection server, with a general location of the phone.
The server then verifies this information with other Android phones in the region. To check if they are reporting similar movements, to understand if an earthquake is happening. Google said, “We are prioritizing launching Earthquake Alerts in countries with higher earthquake risks. And hope to launch in more and more countries over the coming year.”
The company’s stated goal is to create the “world’s largest earthquake detection network.” It comes as establishing a ground network of seismometers, like USGS ShakeAlert in California and the West Coast. Android users can opt-out from device Settings > Location > Advanced > Earthquake Alerts. This has been in testing since last year, but Google just started sending notifications in two countries this April.
While you are check out other emergency related apps as well. Let us know if you have started receiving the earthquake related alerts in your place of residence or if Google has started sending in alerts by commenting below.