Google Expands Android Earthquake Alerts to More Than 200 Countries and Regions
The rollout began October 15 and should reach phones within about a week, with a richer "Be Ready" alert to follow in the coming months.
Google is extending Android Earthquake Alerts to more than 200 countries and regions, up from 98, according to its official blog post dated October 15. The rollout began that day and should be fully available within about a week (9to5Google, Sammy Fans).
What Google announced
The post, by Boone Spooner, group product manager for Earthquake Alerts, names Panama and Guatemala among the new additions. Other coverage lists the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and several African nations, and one outlet breaks the total into 175 countries and 38 overseas territories (Analytics Insight); that breakdown comes from a single source. One report says Japan is not included because it relies on the Japan Meteorological Agency's own Earthquake Early Warnings.
Google also says it has sent more than one billion alerts since the system launched in 2021. That is a company figure covering all alert types. The system works by using the accelerometers in Android phones as a network of small seismometers to detect shaking and warn people further away before it arrives.
The three alert levels
| Alert | When it fires | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Be Aware | Light estimated shaking | Standard notification |
| Be Ready | Stronger shaking | Tells people to prepare to act; richer version coming |
| Take Action | Moderate to heavy shaking | Full-screen alert with immediate safety guidance |
In the coming months, Be Ready alerts will add a map of the detected shaking radius, an estimated magnitude, suggested actions and a learn-more button. No date was given.
India is already covered
India has had Android Earthquake Alerts since 2023, so Indian users are not part of this expansion, but the same coming changes to Be Ready alerts should apply here. It is worth checking that the feature is switched on.
Limits of any early warning
An alert is only as useful as the time it gives. A warning might arrive seconds before shaking, or not at all for people close to the epicentre. The system cannot predict earthquakes, and a missing alert is not a sign that it is safe. The system has also had occasional false or mistimed alerts since launch.
What to check on your phone
Open Settings and look under Safety & emergency (on some phones, Location, then Earthquake alerts) to confirm earthquake alerts are on. Parents and organisations responsible for others may want to check family and staff phones, since many people do not know the feature exists.
What to watch next
The improved Be Ready alert, Google's full list of supported regions, and any figures on how quickly alerts reached people in newly covered areas.
