Ten million people within 98 miles of the epicentre could have been sent Google's highest level alert - giving up to 35 seconds of warning to find safety. Instead, only 469 "Take Action" warnings were sent out for the first 7.8 magnitude quake. ... Google's system, named Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA), is able to detect shaking from a vast number of mobile phones that use the Android operating system. Because earthquakes move relatively slowly through the earth, a warning can then be sent out. ... Google says the system is supposed to be supplementary and is not a replacement for national systems. However some scientists worry countries are placing too much faith in tech that has not been fully tested.
It sounds like really great tech that could save many lives in the future but it should be developed by a public service not a foreign for-profit tech giant. The state is responsible for this lack of warning system.