• Source:JND
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Severe tremors jolted Delhi-NCR in the morning on Thursday, getting residents to spill out of their homes in fear. The epicentre was in Haryana's Jhajjar, as per the National Centre for Seismology, and the earthquake was a magnitude 4.4 on the Richter scale at a depth of 10 km.

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Incidents such as this point to the need for timely alerts so you have time to make rapid safety precautions. The good news? The majority of today's smartphones possess in-built sensors that can monitor seismic activity and send alerts—but only when appropriate settings are switched on.

If you don't know how to switch on these alerts, don't panic. We're going to guide you through both Android and iPhone steps.

How Earthquake Alerts Function on Smartphones

Smartphones are equipped with sensors such as accelerometers, which are capable of detecting ground motions. The sensors send the information to a central server when seismic activity is detected. If the system determines that it was indeed an earthquake, it rapidly broadcasts alerts to users in the impacted zone—typically a few seconds prior to the shaking. That brief span of time may be the difference between assisting you in reaching a position of safety.

How to Turn On Earthquake Alerts on Android:

1. Open the Settings application on your Android device.

2. Scroll down to Safety & Emergency.

3. Tap on Earthquake Alerts and ensure it's enabled.

How to Turn On Earthquake Alerts on iPhone:

1. Open your iPhone's Settings.

2. Tap on Notifications.

3. Scroll all the way down and activate Emergency Alerts.

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Once enabled, your phone will automatically alert you if an earthquake is detected in your region—providing you with those valuable extra seconds to remain safe.