If you had no idea WeChat could send earthquake alerts, you’re definitely not alone.
In fact, the nationwide service launched in 2024, and its latest update introduces two features that make it more useful.
One helps keep alerts relevant as you travel, while the other lets users report how strongly they felt the shaking—creating a crowdsourced map that shows how the earthquake was experienced across different areas.
Screenshot via the China Earthquake Administration Mini-Program, Translation via WeChat
Left: Earthquake Early Warning; Middle: Earthquake Alert; Right: Warning Location Setting
The first new feature, ‘Location Update,’ is designed for people on the move.
If WeChat detects that you’re in a city you haven’t subscribed to, the mini program will remind you to update your monitored locations.
Image via China Earthquake Administration WeChat
The earthquake warnings can stay matched to where you actually are, instead of where you first enabled the service.
The second addition, ‘Shake Reports,’ comes into play after the shaking stops.
Users can quickly report what they experienced through the earthquake alert page, from barely noticeable tremors to much stronger shaking.
The responses are processed into a map showing how different places were affected, giving the public a clearer picture of local conditions while providing additional information that complements official monitoring.
Image via China Earthquake Administration WeChat
The service is built on China’s National Earthquake Early Warning Project, which was completed in 2024.
It is important to note, earthquake early warning doesn’t predict earthquakes.
Instead, it can provide a few seconds to several tens of seconds of warning before shaking reaches your location, depending on the earthquake and how far you are from the epicenter.
That is often enough time to move away from windows, avoid elevators, or take cover.
Image via China Earthquake Administration WeChat
Since launching nationwide, WeChat’s earthquake warning platform has reportedly issued more than 700 alerts and attracted over 60 million subscribers.
The same official warning network is also expanding beyond WeChat, with support built into smartphone operating systems from brands including Huawei, Xiaomi, and vivo, while pilot projects are bringing alerts to classroom displays and electronic notice boards in some schools.
Altogether, the public warning system now reaches more than 400 million users across multiple platforms.
Screenshot via China Earthquake Administration Mini-Program
If you’d like to enable the feature, search “中国地震台网” or “地震预警” in WeChat, open the official mini program, allow location and notification permissions, and add the places you’d like to monitor.
It only takes a minute to set up, and in the event of an earthquake, those extra seconds could make a meaningful difference.
READ MORE: This Day in History: Haicheng Earthquake Prediction World First
[Cover image via That’s]
Rachel Wu
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