• News
    • Latest news
    • News search
    • Health
    • Finance
    • Food
    • Career news
    • Content series
    • Try Devex Pro
  • Jobs
    • Job search
    • Post a job
    • Employer search
    • CV Writing
    • Upcoming career events
    • Try Career Account
  • Funding
    • Funding search
    • Funding news
  • Talent
    • Candidate search
    • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Events
    • Upcoming and past events
    • Partner on an event
  • Post a job
  • About
      • About us
      • Membership
      • Newsletters
      • Advertising partnerships
      • Devex Talent Solutions
      • Contact us
Join DevexSign in
Join DevexSign in

News

  • Latest news
  • News search
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Food
  • Career news
  • Content series
  • Try Devex Pro

Jobs

  • Job search
  • Post a job
  • Employer search
  • CV Writing
  • Upcoming career events
  • Try Career Account

Funding

  • Funding search
  • Funding news

Talent

  • Candidate search
  • Devex Talent Solutions

Events

  • Upcoming and past events
  • Partner on an event
Post a job

About

  • About us
  • Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising partnerships
  • Devex Talent Solutions
  • Contact us
  • My Devex
  • Update my profile % complete
  • Account & privacy settings
  • My saved jobs
  • Manage newsletters
  • Support
  • Sign out
Latest newsNews searchHealthFinanceFoodCareer newsContent seriesTry Devex Pro
    • News
    • #innov8aid

    Predicting earthquakes on Twitter

    Social media is changing how people respond to natural disasters, but how about warning them of a coming catastrophe, especially in developing countries? A new system devised by Japanese scientists uses Twitter to alert that an earthquake is on its way.

    By Carlos Santamaria // 28 May 2013
    Twitter's mobile interface. A new earthquake-reporting system developed by scientists in Japan uses Twitter to send quick alerts with 75 percent accuracy. Photo by: LAI Ryanne / CC BY-NC

    Social media is changing how people respond to natural disasters, but how about warning them of a coming catastrophe, especially in developing countries?

    Toretter, a new earthquake-reporting system developed by Japanese scientists, uses Twitter to provide a quick and affordable way of informing the public that a tremor is on its way. The system apparently works faster than Japan’s own official earthquake warning channels and could even be adapted to send out alerts pertaining to other natural disasters, the Science and Development Network reported on Monday.

    Between 2009 and 2011, the scientists monitored tweets pertaining to more than 1,000 quakes. Toretter monitors tweets from users that are reporting possible tremors and were able to detect more than 90 percent, but there were also many false alarms. The system was then improved until it was able to detect at least 80 percent of strong earthquakes with a 75 percent reliability record.

    The system uses computer-based semantic analysis to classify tweets based on keywords, such as ‘shaking’ or ‘earthquake’ and their context. Toretter uses computer-based semantic analysis to classify tweets based on keywords such as ‘shaking’ or ‘earthquake’, and their context, then compares that information to the time and location of the tweets, and finally sends an email alert within an average of two minutes, four minutes faster than the Japan Meteorological Agency.

    According to its makers, Toretter is ideal for many developing countries that are prone to natural disasters, as the low-cost system can be adapted to also detect typhoons, tornados, tsunamis and even heavy traffic.

    Indonesia, for instance, has a high incidence of catastrophes and at the same time is the fastest-growing nation in the world in terms of Facebook and Twitter users.

    Read our last #innov8aid.

      Printing articles to share with others is a breach of our terms and conditions and copyright policy. Please use the sharing options on the left side of the article. Devex Pro members may share up to 10 articles per month using the Pro share tool ( ).

      About the author

      • Carlos Santamaria

        Carlos Santamaria

        Carlos is a former associate editor for breaking news in Devex's Manila-based news team. He joined Devex after a decade working for international wire services Reuters, AP, Xinhua, EFE ,and Philippine social news network Rappler in Madrid, Beijing, Manila, New York, and Bangkok. During that time, he also covered natural disasters on the ground in Myanmar and Japan.

      Search for articles

      Most Read

      • 1
        How low-emissions livestock are transforming dairy farming in Africa
      • 2
        Opinion: Mobile credit, savings, and insurance can drive financial health
      • 3
        The UN's changing of the guard
      • 4
        Opinion: India’s bold leadership in turning the tide for TB
      • 5
        USAID's humanitarian bureau is under pressure and overstretched
      • News
      • Jobs
      • Funding
      • Talent
      • Events

      Devex is the media platform for the global development community.

      A social enterprise, we connect and inform over 1.3 million development, health, humanitarian, and sustainability professionals through news, business intelligence, and funding & career opportunities so you can do more good for more people. We invite you to join us.

      • About us
      • Membership
      • Newsletters
      • Advertising partnerships
      • Devex Talent Solutions
      • Post a job
      • Careers at Devex
      • Contact us
      © Copyright 2000 - 2025 Devex|User Agreement|Privacy Statement