Stay alert: Quake warning app demand surges in earthquake-rattled Taiwan

Lin Ruei, another co-founder of the app launched in 2022, said their app tracks fast-moving seismic waves from more than 130 seismic sensors the team installed across the island to give users early warnings. For instance, he said, the app could give users in more populated western Taiwan up to 30 seconds warning for a quake from the remote eastern coast.

“Some people might feel quite panic with just an earthquake of intensity 2, then they can download our app,” said Lin, a 17-year-old student.

“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 only goes to phone users in areas where major earthquakes with an estimated intensity of 4 or above are expected, which authorities say are powerful enough to move some furniture, cause wall cracks or disrupt power or water supplies.

Wu Chien-fu, Director of the Central Weather Administration’s Seismological Center, told Reuters they encourage the development of alternative tools which provide innovative means for disaster response, adding authorities were aware of calls to lower thresholds for official alerts, a system designed for bigger tremors that are more likely to cause damage.

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

Still, many are drawn to the privately-developed application’s extra functionalities, such as an automatic flashlight switch-on before the shaking starts, a countdown timer, or alerts for smaller quakes that do not trigger the government warnings – a reassurance for those who wish to stay more alert for 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,” one user wrote in the review of Taiwan Earthquake Quick Alert, currently one of the most downloaded apps for iPhones in Taiwan which issues a countdown to the first shock waves.