Latest news with #AEA
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Google admits failure to alert millions during Turkey's 2023 quakes
Agencies Google has acknowledged that its early warning system had failed to deliver critical alerts to millions of people during Türkiye's deadliest earthquakes more than two years ago, a report said on the algorithms functioned properly, around 10 million people within 157 kilometers (97.56 miles) of the epicenter could have received the highest-level warning up to 35 seconds before the shaking began. In reality, just 469 people received the alert during the first 7.8 magnitude quake that struck southeastern Türkiye in the early hours of Feb. 6, 2023, while roughly 500,000 received a lower-level notification for mild tremors, Google told the BBC. The tech giant previously said the system, named Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA), had 'performed well.' More than 55,000 people died and over 100,000 were injured in the twin tremors, many of them caught in their sleep. The AEA is run by the Silicon Valley firm, not individual countries. It works on Android devices, which are said to make up more than 70% of the phones in Türkiye. The highest-level alert in AEA is the 'Take Action' warning. It triggers a loud alarm that bypasses the Do Not Disturb mode and takes over the phone's screen. This alert is intended for situations where intense shaking is detected and poses a danger to human life. A lower-level alert, called 'Be Aware,' notifies users about possible mild tremors. Unlike the more urgent warning, it doesn't interrupt devices that are set to Do Not early warning system was in place and live on the day of the Feb. 6 quakes. However, it underestimated how strong the tremors were. It initially estimated the magnitude of the first earthquake at 4.5-4.9 rather than the actual 7.8, BBC cited researchers as explaining in the Science journal. A similar underestimation occurred during the second quake, leading to only 8,158 phones receiving the 'Take Action' alert and 4 million getting the less urgent 'Be Aware' notification. Following the disaster, Google revised its algorithms and ran simulations showing that the updated system would have delivered 'Take Action' alerts to 10 million devices and 'Be Aware' notifications to 67 million people.
Mint
3 days ago
- Science
- Mint
Turkey Earthquake: Google's AEA miscalculated magnitude, issued only 469 major alerts
Google has acknowledged serious shortcomings in its Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA) system, which failed to provide adequate warnings ahead of the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey in February 2023, reported Euro News. Reportedly, the quake, one of the deadliest in the country's recent history, killed more than 55,000 people and injured over 100,000. Despite the system's potential to deliver high-level alerts to millions within the quake zone, the report suggests that only 469 'Take Action' notifications, designed to wake users and prompt immediate protective measures, were sent ahead of the initial 7.8-magnitude tremor. The disaster struck at 4:17 am local time, a time when most victims were asleep indoors. In contrast, around 500,000 people received the far less urgent 'Be Aware' notifications, the report added. These alerts, which do not override Do Not Disturb settings, are intended for minor tremors and do not prompt life-saving action. The failure has been attributed to the system's miscalculation of the quake's magnitude. At the time, the AEA initially estimated the shaking to be between 4.5 and 4.9 on the moment magnitude scale, vastly underestimating the actual seismic impact. The misjudgement severely limited the scope and intensity of alerts issued. Following scrutiny from the BBC and independent experts, Google reportedly admitted in a paper published inScience that there were flaws in its detection algorithms. It later ran a simulation of the event using its updated system, which it claims would have sent 10 million 'Take Action' alerts and 67 million 'Be Aware' notifications had the new version been active at the time. A second major quake later the same day saw a somewhat improved response from the system, with over 8,000 'Take Action' alerts sent and nearly four million 'Be Aware' notifications issued. However, experts argue that the damage had already been done and that the system's failure during the initial quake cost crucial seconds of warning. Elizabeth Reddy, assistant professor at the Colorado School of Mines, criticised the delayed transparency. 'I'm really frustrated that it took so long,' she said. 'This wasn't a minor incident, people died. And the warning system did not perform as needed.' The AEA operates independently of government-run warning services and functions using data from Android phones, which account for over 70 per cent of mobile devices in Turkey. Google has maintained that the system is meant to supplement national alert networks rather than replace them. Still, seismologists and emergency management experts warn that some nations may rely too heavily on Google's system, potentially neglecting the development of robust public warning infrastructure. 'Would some places make the calculation that Google's doing it, so we don't have to?' asked Harold Tobin, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. 'Transparency about its effectiveness is critical.'
Saudi Gazette
3 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
Google failed to warn 10 million of Turkey earthquake severity
ISTANBUL — 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. 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. The tech giant previously told the BBC the system had "performed well" after an investigation in 2023. The alerts system is available in just under 100 countries - and is described by Google as a "global safety net" often operating in countries with no other warning system. Google's system, named Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA), is run by the Silicon Valley firm — not individual countries. 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. 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. Google's system, 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 four million users. 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 "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. "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." 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. "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?" 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. — BBC
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Google admits lapse in earthquake alert system during Turkey's 2023 tragedy: Report
When a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Turkey in the early hours of February 6, 2023, most people were asleep. By the time buildings crumbled and the earth stopped shaking, over 55,000 lives were lost. But as the dust settled, a question lingered: Why didn't more people receive a warning? Now, more than two years later, Google has admitted that its Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA) System didn't work as intended. Designed to act as a global safety net, especially in countries lacking official warning systems, the AEA System drastically underestimated the power of the Turkey quake, according to a report by BBC Over 10 million people who had Android phones and were located within 160 kilometers of the epicentre should have received Google's highest-level warning, 'Take Action'. This warning serves as a loud alarm that overrides Do Not Disturb and fills the smartphone screen with instructions. It is meant to give individuals a critical 10 to 35-second headstart. Instead, only 469 people reportedly received this alert. About half a million users were issued a milder 'Be Aware' notification, the kind that informs of light tremors and doesn't make a sound. Google had initially claimed its system 'performed well', as per the report. Now, the tech giant's own research analysis reportedly confirms that its alert system drastically underestimated the magnitude of the quake, measuring it to be between 4.5 and 4.9 in magnitude on the Richter scale, instead of the actual 7.8. In a research paper published in Science journal, Google researchers said that the detection algorithm failed to interpret the strength of the initial tremors in Turkey. The root cause reportedly had to do with the calibration. Only after the disaster did Google researchers tweak the algorithm and simulate the quake again. As part of the simulation, the system sent 10 million 'Take Action' alerts and 67 million 'Be Aware' notifications. Google has previously emphasised that its alert system is meant to be supplementary and not a replacement for national-level networks. However, experts have raised questions about why it took so long for the tech giant to publicly acknowledge the issue. 'People died and we didn't see a performance of this warning in the way we would like,' Elizabeth Reddy, a professor at the Colorado School of Mines, was quoted as saying. 'Would some places make the calculation that Google's doing it, so we don't have to?' asked Harold Tobin, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, said. 'We continue to improve the system based on what we learn in each earthquake […] Every earthquake early warning system grapples with the same challenge – tuning algorithms for large magnitude events,' a Google spokesperson was quoted as saying by BBC. The AEA has reportedly pushed out earthquake alerts in over 98 countries so far. The system was introduced in India in 2023. (This article has been curated by Kaashvi Khubyani, who is an intern with The Indian Express.)
Euronews
3 days ago
- Euronews
Google admits its earthquake alert system failed during Turkey's quake
Google has acknowledged that its Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA) system failed to accurately warn the vast majority of people before the catastrophic earthquake that struck Turkey in February 2023, killing over 55,000 and injuring more than 100,000. Despite the potential to issue high-level alerts to 10 million people within 158 kilometres of the epicentre, only 469 'Take Action' alerts were sent out ahead of the first 7.8 magnitude quake, a risky shortfall, as this is the level of warning designed to wake sleeping users and prompt them to seek immediate safety. Instead, Google told the BBC that around 500,000 users received the less severe 'Be Aware' notification, intended only for light shaking and incapable of overriding a device's Do Not Disturb setting. The alert system underestimated the severity of the quake, initially calculating the shaking at just 4.5 to 4.9 on the moment magnitude scale, which is far below the actual magnitude of 7.8. 'We continue to improve the system based on what we learn in each earthquake,' a Google spokesperson said. The BBC's investigation following the disaster revealed that no users interviewed across the affected region had received the more serious Take Action alert before the tremors. The alert would have been especially vital given that the earthquake struck at 4:17 am local time (3:17 am CET), when most people were asleep in buildings that ultimately collapsed. While Google had previously claimed the system had "performed well", it later published research in the Science journal acknowledging 'limitations to the detection algorithms' that contributed to the system's failure. The second major earthquake that struck later that day was also underestimated, although it triggered more alerts — 8,158 Take Action and nearly four million Be Aware. After the incident, Google revised its detection algorithms and ran a simulation of the first earthquake. The updated system, had it been in place at the time, would have sent 10 million Take Action alerts and an additional 67 million Be Aware notifications, according to the company. 'Every earthquake early warning system grapples with the same challenge — tuning algorithms for large magnitude events,' Google told the BBC. Yet experts have expressed grave concern about the delay in releasing this information. 'I'm really frustrated that it took so long,' said Elizabeth Reddy, assistant professor at the Colorado School of Mines. '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.' The AEA system, available in 98 countries, operates independently of national governments and is managed directly by Google. It detects tremors through the movement of Android smartphones, which make up over 70% of mobile devices in Turkey. Google has maintained that AEA is meant to supplement, not replace, national warning systems. However, scientists worry that some countries may be overly reliant on this technology. 'Would some places make the calculation that Google's doing it, so we don't have to?' asked Harold Tobin, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. 'I think being very transparent about how well it works is absolutely critical.' The BBC has since asked Google how the AEA system performed during the 2025 earthquake in Myanmar, but has not yet received a response.
