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| So far, the death toll from the earthquake has been confirmed at nearly 600 people (Photo: AFP) |
After the devastating earthquake that hit Venezuela on Wednesday, thousands of social media users claimed to have received warning messages on their Android smartphones moments before the tremors were felt.
According to the AFP news agency, nearly 600 people have been confirmed dead in the earthquake so far, while experts are investigating the important role that modern smartphones played in warning people of the danger.
According to Google, billions of Android phones around the world can serve not only as a means of communication but also as a vast network for the early detection of earthquakes.
Almost every smartphone has a sensor called an accelerometer, which is typically used to measure the rotation of the phone's screen or movement. However, the same sensor can also detect the initial tremors in the ground.
Google explained last year that when multiple Android phones in an area register unusual movements at the same time, that information is immediately sent to Google's servers. The system then compares the data received from the different phones to confirm that an earthquake has actually occurred and to estimate its magnitude and location. If the threat is serious, a warning is sent to users in the affected area a few seconds in advance; this can sometimes help save precious lives.
Google's earthquake warning system consists of two levels. The "Be Aware" warning informs users about tremors of relatively low intensity, while in the case of a strong earthquake, the "Take Action" warning appears across the phone's entire screen and gives a loud warning - even if the phone is in silent mode - so that the user can take immediate safety measures.
According to Google, since 2021, the system has already identified more than 2,000 potentially dangerous earthquakes worldwide and sent about 790 million warning messages to various users. However, the system has also had to face certain challenges in the past.
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| Since 2021, its system has identified more than 2,000 potentially dangerous earthquakes around the world (Photo: AFP) |
In 2023, some Android phones failed to receive timely warnings before devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, after which Google claimed to have improved its algorithms. Similarly, the company had to apologize for a false warning that was mistakenly issued in Brazil in 2025.
On the other hand, Apple's iPhones also have the ability to receive official notifications regarding emergencies.
Apple says users in some countries, including the United States and Taiwan, may also receive additional earthquake alerts, but the company hasn't yet provided details on how its system works like Google's. However, iPhones have a feature that allows a notification received on one device to be forwarded to nearby Apple devices, even if they don't have a cellular signal or Wi-Fi connection.
Hundreds of people on the social media platform X praised Google's system after the recent earthquake in Venezuela, with some users saying that the warning they received moments earlier allowed them to leave buildings and reach safety, potentially saving many precious lives.
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