Google has launched a version of its Person Finder service for victims of today’s earthquake that struck Japan.
A massive earthquake, measured 8.9 by the US Geological Survey, has struck north-east Japan, causing a destructive tsunami.
The tool, which can be embedded in other websites and social networking sites, helps people and authorities to compare the information gathered by different agencies and help to re-unite relatives and loved ones.
People can look for missing people or post a note about their safety status in the new service which is a directory but doubles up as a message board.
The service has a common format for postings.
The tool, which was developed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, was first used after the Haiti earthquake in January 2010.
The Person Finder for the 2011 Japan Earthquake is available at: http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/
Google has placed a Tsunami Alert for New Zealand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii, and other countries on its homepage.
It says, "Waves expected over the next few hours, caused by 8.9 earthquake in Japan."
