Google’s Earthquake Alerts Help Users During Sudden Tremor

A sudden tremor shook the country on 21 November, turning the morning into a moment of panic for Dhaka residents. At 10:38 am, Google Alerts sounded warning notifications on smartphones. However, not everyone received it — only those who had the feature enabled.

Google launched the Earthquake Alert System in 2020 to warn Android users in different regions during earthquakes. Through this system, Google analyzes ground vibrations and sends out early warnings.

Google’s Earthquake Alert System

The Android Earthquake Alert System uses the tiny accelerometers inside smartphones to analyze ground movement and send earthquake warnings. In addition to informing users about the quake’s epicenter and magnitude, the system also provides safety advice. As a result, nearby Android users can be warned promptly and guided on how to stay safe.

To activate earthquake alerts on an Android phone, go to Settings → Safety & Emergency → Earthquake Alerts, and toggle the feature on from the following page.

My Earthquake

More than 10 million people around the world use the My Earthquake Alerts Map app on their Android devices. My Earthquake Alerts is an earthquake monitoring app that provides essential earthquake-related information.
The app can detect quakes worldwide and is available to download for free from this link. Its iOS version is also available at the provided link.

MyShake

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley have developed the MyShake app. The app uses smartphone sensors to detect earthquakes and deliver real-time alerts to users. It also contributes data to improve early warning systems, allowing citizens to participate in a global citizen-science project.

The app currently has around 1 million users and can be downloaded for free from the provided link.