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| Google admits it failed to warn 10 million of Turkey earthquake | Google admits it failed to warn 10 million of Turkey earthquake |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Google has admitted its earthquake early warning system failed to accurately alert people during Turkey's deadly quake of 2023. | Google has admitted its earthquake early warning system failed to accurately alert people during Turkey's deadly quake of 2023. |
| Ten million people within 98 miles of the epicentre could have been sent Google's highest level alert - giving up to 35 seconds of warning to find safety. | Ten million people within 98 miles of the epicentre could have been sent Google's highest level alert - giving up to 35 seconds of warning to find safety. |
| Instead, only 469 "Take Action" warnings were sent out for the first 7.8 magnitude quake. | Instead, only 469 "Take Action" warnings were sent out for the first 7.8 magnitude quake. |
| Google told the BBC half a million people were sent a lower level warning, which is designed for "light shaking", and does not alert users in the same prominent way. | Google told the BBC half a million people were sent a lower level warning, which is designed for "light shaking", and does not alert users in the same prominent way. |
| The tech giant previously told the BBC the system had "performed well". | The tech giant previously told the BBC the system had "performed well". |
| The system works on Android devices, which make up more than 70% of the phones in Turkey. | The system works on Android devices, which make up more than 70% of the phones in Turkey. |
| More than 55,000 people died when two major earthquakes hit South East Turkey on 6 February 2023, more than 100,000 were injured. Many were asleep in buildings that collapsed around them when the tremors hit. | More than 55,000 people died when two major earthquakes hit South East Turkey on 6 February 2023, more than 100,000 were injured. Many were asleep in buildings that collapsed around them when the tremors hit. |
| Google's early warning system was in place and live on the day of the quakes – however it underestimated how strong the earthquakes were. | Google's early warning system was in place and live on the day of the quakes – however it underestimated how strong the earthquakes were. |
| "We continue to improve the system based on what we learn in each earthquake", a Google spokesperson said. | "We continue to improve the system based on what we learn in each earthquake", a Google spokesperson said. |
| How it works | How it works |
| Google's system, named Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA), is able to detect shaking from a vast number of mobile phones that use the Android operating system. | Google's system, named Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA), is able to detect shaking from a vast number of mobile phones that use the Android operating system. |
| Because earthquakes move relatively slowly through the earth, a warning can then be sent out. | Because earthquakes move relatively slowly through the earth, a warning can then be sent out. |
| Google's most serious warning is called "Take Action", which sets off a loud alarm on a user's phone - overriding a Do Not Disturb setting - and covering their screen. | Google's most serious warning is called "Take Action", which sets off a loud alarm on a user's phone - overriding a Do Not Disturb setting - and covering their screen. |
| This is the warning that is supposed to be sent to people when stronger shaking is detected that could threaten human life. | This is the warning that is supposed to be sent to people when stronger shaking is detected that could threaten human life. |
| AEA also has a less serious "Be Aware" warning, designed to inform users of potential lighter shaking - a warning that does not override a device on Do Not Disturb. | AEA also has a less serious "Be Aware" warning, designed to inform users of potential lighter shaking - a warning that does not override a device on Do Not Disturb. |
| The Take Action alert was especially important in Turkey due to the catastrophic shaking and because the first earthquake struck at 04:17, when many users would have been asleep. Only the more serious alert would have woken them. | The Take Action alert was especially important in Turkey due to the catastrophic shaking and because the first earthquake struck at 04:17, when many users would have been asleep. Only the more serious alert would have woken them. |
| In the months after the earthquake the BBC wanted to speak to users who had been given this warning - initially with aims to showcase the effectiveness of the technology. | In the months after the earthquake the BBC wanted to speak to users who had been given this warning - initially with aims to showcase the effectiveness of the technology. |
| But despite speaking to people in towns and cities across the zone impacted by the earthquake, over a period of months, we couldn't find anyone who had received a more serious Take Action notification before the quake struck. We published our findings later that year. | But despite speaking to people in towns and cities across the zone impacted by the earthquake, over a period of months, we couldn't find anyone who had received a more serious Take Action notification before the quake struck. We published our findings later that year. |
| 'Limitations' | 'Limitations' |
| Google researchers have written in the Science journal details of what went wrong, citing "limitations to the detection algorithms". | Google researchers have written in the Science journal details of what went wrong, citing "limitations to the detection algorithms". |
| For the first earthquake, the system estimated the shaking at between 4.5 and 4.9 on the moment magnitude scale (MMS) when it was actually a 7.8. | For the first earthquake, the system estimated the shaking at between 4.5 and 4.9 on the moment magnitude scale (MMS) when it was actually a 7.8. |
| A second large earthquake later that day was also underestimated, with the system this time sending Take Action alerts to 8,158 phones and Be Aware alerts to just under 4 million users. | A second large earthquake later that day was also underestimated, with the system this time sending Take Action alerts to 8,158 phones and Be Aware alerts to just under 4 million users. |
| After the earthquake Google's researchers changed the algorithm, and simulated the first earthquake again. | After the earthquake Google's researchers changed the algorithm, and simulated the first earthquake again. |
| This time, the system generated 10 million Take Action alerts to those at most risk – and a further 67 million Be Aware alerts to those living further away from the epicentre | This time, the system generated 10 million Take Action alerts to those at most risk – and a further 67 million Be Aware alerts to those living further away from the epicentre |
| "Every earthquake early warning system grapples with the same challenge - tuning algorithms for large magnitude events," Google told the BBC. | "Every earthquake early warning system grapples with the same challenge - tuning algorithms for large magnitude events," Google told the BBC. |
| But Elizabeth Reddy, Assistant Professor at Colorado School of Mines says it is concerning it took more than two years to get this information. | But Elizabeth Reddy, Assistant Professor at Colorado School of Mines says it is concerning it took more than two years to get this information. |
| "I'm really frustrated that it took so long," she said | "I'm really frustrated that it took so long," she said |
| "We're not talking about a little event - people died - and we didn't see a performance of this warning in the way we would like." | "We're not talking about a little event - people died - and we didn't see a performance of this warning in the way we would like." |
| Google says the system is supposed to be supplementary and is not a replacement for national systems. | Google says the system is supposed to be supplementary and is not a replacement for national systems. |
| However some scientists worry countries are placing too much faith in tech that has not been fully tested. | However some scientists worry countries are placing too much faith in tech that has not been fully tested. |
| "I think being very transparent about how well it works is absolutely critical," Harold Tobin, Director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, told the BBC. | "I think being very transparent about how well it works is absolutely critical," Harold Tobin, Director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, told the BBC. |
| "Would some places make the calculation that Google's doing it, so we don't have to?" | "Would some places make the calculation that Google's doing it, so we don't have to?" |
| Google researchers say post-event analysis has better improved the system - and AEA has pushed out alerts in 98 countries. | Google researchers say post-event analysis has better improved the system - and AEA has pushed out alerts in 98 countries. |
| The BBC has asked Google how AEA performed during the 2025 earthquake in Myanmar, but has yet to receive a response. | The BBC has asked Google how AEA performed during the 2025 earthquake in Myanmar, but has yet to receive a response. |
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