News: 0178506196

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Google Failed To Warn 10 Million of Turkey Earthquake Severity (bbc.com)

(Tuesday July 29, 2025 @05:40PM (msmash) from the closer-look dept.)


Google has admitted its earthquake early warning system [1]failed to accurately alert people during Turkey's deadly quake of 2023. From a report:

> 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.



[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c77v2kx304go



wooopsie (Score:2)

by Big Hairy Gorilla ( 9839972 )

Good idea, let's blame Google.

I normally say "let's blame Microsoft", but there's a lot of blame to go around lately.

2 years ago. Why didn't we blame them then?

Apologies to anyone who was hurt.

A courtesy is not an obligation. (Score:4, Insightful)

by couchslug ( 175151 )

What did the GOVERNMENT tell its people?

Re: (Score:2)

by jfdavis668 ( 1414919 )

I don't know, it was in Turkish.

Re: (Score:2)

by ssimpson ( 133662 )

Where are mod points when you need them. This post nails it

Should have used Starlink (Score:2)

by jfdavis668 ( 1414919 )

It has better coverage.

Why warn? We know when Thanksgiving is! (Score:1)

by sabbede ( 2678435 )

What else could a Turkey Earthquake be than the vibrations caused by all those turkeys being marched to the slaughterhouse for Thanksgiving?

Obligatory XKCD (Score:2)

by Stormwatch ( 703920 )

[1]https://xkcd.com/937/ [xkcd.com]

[1] https://xkcd.com/937/

indistinguishable from magic (Score:2)

by reg ( 5428 )

Previously unthinkable technology fails to be miraculous! News at 11...

<Knghtbrd> Feanor - license issues are important. If we don't watch our
arses now, someone's gonna come up and bite us later...