Google has pledged its support in another crisis with the launch of Person Finder, a tool to help locate those missing after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand on Feb. 22.
The app starts with two options: either "I'm looking for someone" or "I have information about someone." For the first choice, after you enter some or all of name of the person in question, Google yields a list of potential matches. If the person you're searching for isn't on the list, a button at the bottom of the page will allow you to make a new file for a missing person.
After entering a name under "I have information about someone," Google directs you to a page that lists information like the person's physical traits and home address. There is also a place to list the status of the individual in question, for example, if they have been found or contacted. The missing person can also claim the profile to report that he or she is safe.
In a similar effort, as protests began to heat up in Egypt late last month, a pair teamed up to create a public spreadsheet on Google Documents that listed names and vital information about people missing in the country. Through two moderators, one in Lebanon and another in Canada, anyone who had information about an individual could add to the list.
Google said that Person Finder, which can be embedded in any Web site, is now "tracking about 5,300 records."
As phone lines are overloaded in the affected area, Google is encouraging people to upload information to the site. Google has also set up a Crisis Response page that lists emergency assistance phone numbers, maps, and other earthquake-related resources.
Hundreds are injured and at least 65 people have been reported dead as a result of the quake, and the death toll could more than double, with many trapped under fallen buildings and rubble.