Google Launches Person Finder in Turkish After Earthquake

Google Activates Person Finder in Turkey After Earthquake

In response to the recent 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Turkey, Google has deployed its Person Finder service. The devastating event has resulted in over 400 confirmed fatalities, with a significant number of individuals still unaccounted for.

The Person Finder tool is designed to assist both rescue organizations and the general public in locating missing persons. It functions by enabling the public dissemination of information regarding those who are missing.

How the Person Finder Works

Individuals can readily access the website and submit details concerning a missing person. Subsequently, others possessing pertinent information can update these records as needed.

All submitted data is made publicly accessible, allowing anyone to view and utilize it. This accessibility is intended to aid rescue teams in focusing their resources efficiently.

The service was initially created following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

History and Usage of the Service

The Google Person Finder originated as a response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, aiming to establish a centralized hub for missing person records.

The service has since been utilized in other disaster scenarios. For example, the 2011 tsunami in Japan saw over 600,000 missing person records submitted through the platform.

Because the system relies on user-submitted updates, it’s important for those entering records to either set an expiration date or delete the information once it is no longer current.