A powerful 6.1 Richter earthquake occurred on Wednesday morning (14.5.2025) off Kassos and Karpathos and many were the ones who woke up – not by earthquake – but by the notice of application of Google “Earthquake Now” (Android Earthquake Alerts)
This is an application that already exists within mobile phones with the Android operating system and – at least in Greece – is a useful tool for the safety of residents in the event of an earthquake.
Indeed, after the earthquake barrel in Santorini, the activation of this application was launched by both locals and journalists and scientists who were closely monitoring the phenomenon.
The “Earthquake Now” is an inherent function of the mobile by Google to inform about earthquakes near the area you are in real time.
What to do to activate it:
- Go to your device settings
- Select ‘Security and Emergency’ and then ‘Earthquake Alerts’
- If you do not identify this option, you can go to “Advanced Location” and then “earthquake alerts”
- Enable earthquake notifications
- To receive the relevant notifications you need to have Wi-Fi or your device data enabled
- The notice from the application comes in the form of a written and audio message, type 112, and in addition to the earthquake warning, it also includes tips.
Android Earthquake Alerts Systems was inaugurated in August 2020 in the state of California, in collaboration with the US Institute of Geological Studies and the Shakealert system, which with smartphones sensors perceives seismic vibrations.