Google Admits Early Warning System Failed Millions During Turkey’s 2023 Earthquake
Google has acknowledged that its Android Earthquake Alerts system failed to provide timely warnings to millions of people during the devastating 2023 earthquakes in Turkey, which killed more than 55,000 people and injured over 100,000.
According to the company, only 469 “Take Action” alerts – its highest-level warning – were sent out ahead of the first 7.8-magnitude quake on 6 February 2023, despite 10 million people being within range to receive up to 35 seconds of advance warning. Around 500,000 people received a lower-level “Be Aware” alert, which does not trigger loud alarms or override Do Not Disturb settings.
Google researchers admitted that the system’s detection algorithms severely underestimated the earthquake’s strength, initially rating it between 4.5 and 4.9 on the magnitude scale instead of the actual 7.8. A second major quake later that day was also underestimated, with just over 8,000 people receiving the top-level alert.
Post-event simulations using improved algorithms showed that the system could have sent 10 million “Take Action” alerts and 67 million “Be Aware” notifications if it had worked correctly.
A Google spokesperson said the company has since updated its algorithms, adding that Android Earthquake Alerts is designed to complement, not replace, national warning systems.
Critics, however, have questioned why it took more than two years for the company to disclose the shortcomings. “People died – and we didn’t see the performance of this warning in the way we would like,” said Elizabeth Reddy, assistant professor at the Colorado School of Mines.
Some experts have raised concerns that countries may rely too heavily on such systems without fully understanding their limitations.
Google has not yet commented on how its system performed during the 2025 Myanmar earthquake.
