Phones stand in for earthquake sensors in Venezuela

Venezuela does not have a government-operated earthquake alert system. However, Google runs a system that relies on accelerometer data from Android phones. As reported by Amy Graff and Martín González Gómez for NYT, the system sent 11.4 million alerts to Venezuela residents to seek cover before the earthquakes hit full-force. While the current death toll is over 1,700, this backup system of sorts seems worth whatever it cost if it saved at least one life.

Here in Northern California, I get these kind of alerts sometimes. Got one just last week. I’m glad they exist.