Facebook and Google Have Been Instrumental In Locating Nepal Earthquake Survivors
A destructive earthquake shocked Nepal for two days and left nearly 2,200 people dead, and many more were left injured or missing. It was one of the most dangerous earthquakes whose epicenter originated 17km south of Kodari, Nepal and measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. At this hour of crisis, many technological powerhouses have made it easier for rescue workers and family members to reach out to missing people.
Google’s Person Finder is a free tool that doubles up as a registry or a message board for survivors. This app was developed first during the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and its aggregated data include registries run by CNN, the Miami Herald and the New York Times. This tool can be used by family or friends to locate missing people or loved ones.
Facebook’s Safety Check is a tool that allows people to inform their family members or friends about their safety status. This feature works by accessing the user’s profile information and check-in updates and tracks people near the area of impact.
https://www.facebook.com/zuck/posts/10102050030813611
For the current disaster in Nepal, Facebook has mapped every person in Nepal and nearby Indian states within the reach.
Viber cancelled the Viber Out bill system so that users can make calls for free to any mobile or landline number during the stretch of the disaster. Similar steps were taken by BSNL, MTNL, IDEA, Airtel and Vodafone. BSNL, Vodafone, MTNL and Idea have lowered down the call rates to Re 1 for the next three days while Airtel offered free Airtel India to Nepal calls for the next three days.
The earthquake jolted Nepal yesterday whose tremors were felt in Delhi and places of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The quake flattened down many houses and buildings, including the famous Dharhara tower.
