A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan on April 3, resulting in the deaths of 17 individuals. The frequent aftershocks, with over 200 tremors recorded on April 22, have left many residents concerned.

The popularity of earthquake warning smartphone apps in Taiwan has surged due to high demand from people seeking extra time to take shelter after a major earthquake and the subsequent 1,300 aftershocks that rattled the island last month.

A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan’s eastern coast on April 3, resulting in the deaths of 17 individuals.

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Numerous individuals have expressed discomfort over the continuous aftershocks, with over 200 tremors recorded within 24 hours starting from April 22.

The government possesses an automatic earthquake warning system, although its reliability can be inconsistent. This system sends out text messages and emits a loud alert sound a few seconds before the onset of shaking. However, before the earthquake on April 3, the system failed to activate in Taipei, the capital of the nation, prompting criticism of the system.

This has led to an increase in the popularity of privately developed earthquake warning applications, driven by the growing necessity to be more informed about upcoming earthquakes.

“What we offer is customized earthquake early warning. You get to set your threshold,” said Kuo Chen-yu, the 20-year-old co-founder of the Disaster Prevention Information Platform, who mentioned that their user base has surged in recent weeks, rising from approximately 3,000 to over 370,000.

Lin Ruei, another co-founder of the 2022 app, stated that the team installed over 130 seismic sensors across the island to monitor swiftly moving seismic waves, aiming to offer users early warnings. He explained that, for instance, the app could notify users in the densely populated west of Taiwan about an earthquake originating from the remote eastern coast up to thirty seconds in advance.

“Some people might feel quite panic with just an earthquake of intensity 2, then they can download our app,” Student Lin, aged 17, commented.

“If you get a 10-second early warning and you move to a secure spot, maybe it would be a life-saving tool for you.”

The official government-run warning system connects phone customers only in areas where significant earthquakes with a predicted intensity of 4 or higher are expected. According to authorities, such earthquakes are deemed strong enough to potentially displace furniture, cause wall damage, and disrupt power or water supply.

Wu Chien-fu, the director of the Seismological Center at the Central Weather Administration, informed Reuters that authorities endorse the development of alternative tools providing innovative disaster response methods. He also noted discussions about reducing the thresholds for official alerts, which are typically reserved for larger earthquakes with a higher likelihood of causing damage.

“We will consider whether to issue warnings to the whole of Taiwan for big earthquakes,” Wu stated.

Nevertheless, numerous individuals are attracted to the additional functionalities offered by privately developed apps. These features encompass a countdown timer, automatic activation of a flashlight before the shaking starts, and notifications for smaller earthquakes that might not trigger government warnings. Such features offer reassurance to individuals seeking to stay more alert amid the frequent tremors.

“The 30-second countdown gave me enough time to mentally prepare myself, grab my survival kit, and dash to my child’s room,” a user shared in a review of the Taiwan Earthquake Quick Alert app, which includes a countdown feature leading up to the initial shock waves. Presently, it stands as one of the most popular downloads for iPhones in Taiwan.