Google is constantly updating its search capabilities – just this week it introduced a native lyric search. Now it's announced an even more practical update – real-time earthquake reports that will appear at the top of related searches.
If you search "earthquake" or "earthquakes near me", Google will show you what it calls a "shakemap" on the earthquake risk, including strength, location map and safety tips.
"The US geological survey estimates that approximately 500,000 earthquakes occur around the globe each year," Google wrote in a blog post announcing the update.
Now people who feel the effects of an earthquake can ask Google directly about the disaster and get timely information to help them stay safe."
"You’ll also find clearly displayed tips on what to do next to stay safe from damaged buildings and during potential earthquake aftershocks. To give you the ability to confirm aftershocks in the hours and days after the event, we’ll also show information about other recent earthquakes to put the tremors into context," Google writes.
"We hope that by displaying this result directly in Search, people will have fast and easy access to the information they need to stay safe in the face of an earthquake."
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
