Alert system of Google did not successfully issue suitable warnings for the earthquake that struck Turkey in 2023.
Google's Earthquake Alerts System: Improvements Made After Turkey Earthquake Failure
In the aftermath of the 2023 Turkey earthquake, Google's Earthquake Alerts System faced criticism for failing to warn millions of people in the affected area. The system, which was launched in 2020 and expanded to more countries in 2021, drastically underestimated the earthquake's magnitude and delivered primarily low-level "Be Aware" alerts instead of urgent "Take Action" warnings.
The system's detection algorithms were found to be the root cause of the failure, initially registering the 7.8 magnitude quake as only about 4.5 to 4.9. This detection shortfall severely limited the scale and urgency of alerts sent out. The earthquake struck early in the morning when most people were asleep, making effective alerts even more critical.
Since the event, Google has revised and improved its detection algorithms. The updated system, if deployed in time, would have sent out 10 million "Take Action" alerts and 67 million additional "Be Aware" notifications during the earthquake. Google emphasized the challenge in tuning algorithms for large magnitude events and stated that their system is meant to supplement, not replace, national warning frameworks.
The changes made to Google's Earthquake Alerts System have resulted in improved magnitude detection, with the median absolute error of Google's first estimate dropping from 0.50 to 0.25. The system also now provides up to 35 seconds of warning to find safety, and the "Take Action" alert takes over the phone's screen and plays a loud, urgent sound, bypassing "Do Not Disturb" settings.
In addition, Google has expanded the Earthquake Alerts System to Wear OS devices, displaying the quake's magnitude and estimated distance to the epicenter. The system has also shown significant improvements over the last three years, with people who experienced moderate to strong shaking during the April 2025 Turkey earthquake receiving a warning time of a few to 20 seconds.
Google has acknowledged that its alert system needed to be fine-tuned to respond to catastrophic events like the 2023 earthquake and has made efforts to improve transparency in its communication. The BBC reported on these issues with Google's earthquake alert system in relation to the February 2023 earthquake in Turkey.
In summary, Google's Earthquake Alerts System has made significant improvements since the 2023 Turkey earthquake failure. The system now provides more accurate earthquake magnitude estimates, delivers more urgent alerts, and has been expanded to Wear OS devices. Google continues to work on making its alert system even more accurate and reliable, with the goal of maximizing public safety.
Key Improvements:
| Aspect | Pre-2023 Turkey Earthquake | Post-2023 Improvements | |-------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Magnitude detection | Underestimated 7.8 quake as ~4.5-4.9 | Improved algorithms better estimate magnitude | | Alert level distribution | Mostly low-level “Be Aware” alerts; few urgent | Simulated 10 million “Take Action” alerts possible | | Alert impact | Alerts didn’t override Do Not Disturb; many likely missed them | Updated alerts designed to be more urgent and widespread | | System role | Supplementary to national systems | Continued supplement, with improved transparency |
These changes highlight Google’s technical response to the tragic failure in Turkey but also underscore the importance of transparent communication and integration with official earthquake warning systems to maximize public safety.
Technology played a crucial role in Google's response to the 2023 Turkey earthquake failure, as improvements made to the Earthquake Alerts System were primarily technological. These improvements include more accurate earthquake magnitude estimates, the delivery of more urgent alerts, and the expansion of the system to Wear OS devices. Google continues to emphasize the importance of technology in making its alert system more accurate and reliable, with the ultimate goal of maximizing public safety. However, the incident also underscores the importance of transparent communication and integration with official earthquake warning systems to enhance the effectiveness of technology in disaster management.
