Seismic alert interest rises in Latin America after earthquakes

Recent earthquakes in Colombia and Venezuela have driven a surge of interest in mobile seismic alert systems across Latin America. Citizens are increasingly looking to configure their smartphones to receive early warnings that can provide precious seconds to seek shelter before destructive waves arrive.

Android devices utilize an integrated system developed by Google that uses motion sensors to identify seismic signals. Users can typically enable this via the ‘Security and emergency’ section in their device settings. While these alerts do not predict earthquakes, they can notify users as a seismic event is detected. For iPhone users, emergency functions vary by country and available applications.

In addition to built-in OS features, third-party applications such as My Earthquake Alerts and Feed offer interactive maps and data sourced from organizations like the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).