Earthquakes are unpredictable natural disasters that can cause serious damage and loss of life. While we cannot stop them, technology has given us tools to help us prepare and respond better. One useful development is the use of earthquake alert systems in smartphones. These alerts can give people a few valuable seconds to get to safety before the shaking starts.
Yes, modern smartphones can warn you about an earthquake before it happens. Many phones have built-in motion sensors, called accelerometers, which can detect early tremors. When many phones in the same area sense shaking at the same time, they send data to a central server. The server then works out where the earthquake is happening and how strong it is. If it detects a real earthquake, it sends alerts to people in the affected area. These alerts can help save lives by giving people time to take cover.
How to install earthquake alerts on your phone
For Android Users:
- Open Settings.
- Select Safety and Emergency.
- Turn on Earthquake Alerts.
For iPhone Users:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Notifications.
- Scroll down to the bottom and enable Emergency Alerts.
Google’s android earthquake alerts system
In August 2020, Google introduced the Android Earthquake Alerts System and in September 2023, Google expanded this system to India. This system turns Android phones into tiny earthquake detectors. The accelerometers in the phones sense the ground shaking and send data to Google’s earthquake detection servers.
As per a Google blog, the Android Earthquake Alerts System works by using the accelerometers in Android smartphones to detect shaking. When a phone is still and charging, it can act as a small earthquake detector. If several phones in the same area detect shaking at the same time, Google’s servers analyse the data to find the earthquake’s location and strength. Since internet signals travel faster than earthquake waves, alerts can reach people seconds before the tremors arrive.
Few people received early warnings near Kolkata
As per a Telegraph report, on 25th February 2025, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake hit the Bay of Bengal near Puri, Odisha, at 6:10 am. Tremors were felt in cities like Kolkata, Kolaghat, Kharagpur, Kalyani, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack.
Some people in Kolkata and nearby areas received earthquake alerts on their smartphones before they felt the tremors, while others did not. This shows why it is important to turn on earthquake alerts on your phone to receive timely warnings, but at the same it is important to remember that smartphone earthquake alerts are not perfect.
The accuracy of alerts depends on factors such as how close you are to the earthquake’s centre, how deep the earthquake is, and the local internet infrastructure. Some areas may not have a strong enough detection network, which can affect how well the alerts work. However, enabling earthquake alerts on your phone can still provide you with life-saving seconds to react in an emergency.