Istanbul, Turkey — Google has acknowledged that its earthquake early warning system did not function effectively during the catastrophic series of earthquakes that struck southeastern Turkey in February 2023. This failure has raised concerns about the reliability of technological solutions designed to safeguard people during natural disasters.

The company’s Android Earthquake Alerts system, which operates primarily on Android devices—representing over 70% of mobile phones in Turkey—was live during the earthquakes. However, it significantly underestimated the strength of the initially recorded 7.8-magnitude quake. Although up to 10 million people within 98 miles of the epicenter could have received Google’s highest alert, known as “Take Action,” only 469 such notifications were sent out in the crucial moments leading up to the disaster.

During the incident, more than 55,000 lives were lost and over 100,000 individuals sustained injuries, many while asleep in buildings that collapsed amid the tremors. Google had previously indicated that the warning system performed adequately, but the minimal alert responses contradict that assertion. In comparison, about half a million users received a lower-level “Be Aware” warning intended for lighter tremors, which does not offer the same immediate attention.

Following the disaster, Google researchers published insights into the shortcomings of the detection algorithms used by the system. They reported that, for the initial quake, the system estimated a shaking intensity between 4.5 and 4.9 on the moment magnitude scale, a significant underestimation of the actual severity. The subsequent earthquake later that day also faced similar issues, with only a fraction of users receiving adequate alerts.

The importance of the “Take Action” alert cannot be overstated, especially given that the first quake struck at 4:17 a.m., when many residents were likely asleep. The notification is designed to override Do Not Disturb settings and generates a loud alarm, making it essential for waking users in desperate need of warning.

Despite the recognized failures, Google has stated it continues to improve its algorithms based on lessons learned from each seismic event. Researchers simulated the first earthquake after updating the algorithms and found that a corrected system could have generated up to 10 million “Take Action” alerts for those at greatest risk, alongside another 67 million “Be Aware” notifications for distant users.

Experts in earthquake science have expressed disappointment over the delays in revealing the system’s shortcomings. Elizabeth Reddy, an assistant professor at the Colorado School of Mines, criticized the lengthy disclosure process after such a devastating event, emphasizing that lives were lost and the system’s performance did not meet expectations.

Google maintains that its early warning system is meant to complement existing national systems, not replace them. However, concerns linger among scientists about an overreliance on technology still undergoing testing. Harold Tobin, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, emphasized the need for transparency in the system’s effectiveness and questioned if some regions might assume they are adequately covered simply because Google is involved.

Despite the challenges, post-event evaluations have led to enhancements in the Android Earthquake Alerts system, which has since been deployed in 98 countries. As the inquiry continues into how the system performed during other significant earthquakes, including a recent event in Myanmar, the tech giant faces scrutiny over the efficacy and reliability of its disaster response tools.