Earthquakes are unpredictable, often causing widespread destruction and loss of life. While we cannot prevent them, technology has made it possible to receive early warnings, giving people precious seconds to take cover. One of the most effective tools in earthquake preparedness today is the smartphone earthquake alert system.
Many modern smartphones can detect early tremors and send alerts before the shaking begins. But how do these alerts work, and how can you enable them on your device? Here’s what you need to know.
How Do Smartphone Earthquake Alerts Work?
Smartphones are equipped with motion sensors called accelerometers, which detect movement. When multiple phones in an area sense the same shaking, they send data to a central server. The server then analyzes the data to determine if an earthquake is occurring, its location, and its strength.
If the system confirms a real earthquake, it sends alerts to people in affected areas. Since internet signals travel faster than earthquake waves, these warnings can arrive seconds before the tremors hit, allowing people to take cover.
How to Enable Earthquake Alerts on Your Phone
Activating earthquake alerts is simple and could be life-saving.
For Android Users:
- Open Settings.
- Select Safety and Emergency.
- Turn on Earthquake Alerts.
For iPhone Users:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Notifications.
- Scroll down and enable Emergency Alerts.
Google’s Android Earthquake Alerts System
In August 2020, Google introduced the Android Earthquake Alerts System. This feature turns Android smartphones into mini earthquake detectors using built-in accelerometers.
The system expanded to India in September 2023, making earthquake detection more accessible to millions. When a phone is still and charging, it can detect even slight ground movements. If several phones in an area pick up the same tremors, Google’s servers analyze the data and send alerts.
These alerts reach users seconds before the earthquake waves arrive, providing time to seek safety.
Recent Earthquake Near Kolkata: Who Got the Alert?
On February 25, 2025, a 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Bay of Bengal near Puri, Odisha, at 6:10 AM. Tremors were felt in Kolkata, Kolaghat, Kharagpur, Kalyani, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack.
Some residents in Kolkata and nearby areas received earthquake alerts on their smartphones before feeling the tremors, while others did not. This highlights both the importance and limitations of smartphone-based alerts.
How Reliable Are Smartphone Earthquake Alerts?
While these alerts can be life-saving, they are not 100% accurate. Several factors affect their effectiveness, including:
✔ Proximity to the earthquake’s epicenter—Closer locations may receive shorter warnings.
✔ Depth of the earthquake—Shallower quakes are detected more easily.
✔ Internet connectivity—Weak signals may delay or prevent alerts.
✔ Detection network coverage—Areas with fewer smartphones may not generate timely warnings.
Despite these challenges, enabling earthquake alerts on your phone can increase your chances of receiving an early warning, giving you valuable time to react.
Final Thoughts: A Small Step That Can Save Lives
Earthquakes strike without warning, but technology is giving us a head start. Smartphone-based alert systems, like Google’s Android Earthquake Alerts, are helping people prepare and respond faster.
By simply turning on earthquake alerts on your phone, you can ensure that you receive life-saving notifications when it matters most. Have you enabled your earthquake alerts yet?
