New Delhi, June 25 -- Two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening have drawn attention not only for the widespread destruction they caused but also for the early warnings received by several Android users before the tremors were felt.

Social media users shared screenshots of Google notifications warning them of an approaching earthquake. One alert estimated a magnitude 6.2 quake about 212.3 miles (roughly 341 km) away, prompting many to ask how Google was able to send alerts before the ground started shaking.

The answer lies in Google's Android Earthquake Alerts System, which turns millions of smartphones into a vast earthquake detection network.

Every modern Android smartphone is equipped with an accelerometer,...