A Google official confirmed that the Android Earthquake Alerts System detected seismic activity in Venezuela and sent warning notifications to users seconds before the earthquakes struck the South American country.
The system, built into most Android phones, has been used to detect and warn of earthquakes in dozens of countries since 2020.
It works by using two detection methods: partnering with the US ShakeAlert system in California, Oregon, and Washington, or crowdsourcing data from smartphone accelerometers.
The system sends two types of alerts: 'Be Aware' for weak shaking and 'Take Action' for moderate to extreme shaking, which can override smartphone settings.
Google says its system can provide a few seconds of warning, which can be enough for someone to get off a ladder or move away from heavy objects before the shaking begins.
The system has been used in 98 countries, including India, and has detected an average of 312 earthquakes a month worldwide.
