Google Launches Person Finder for the Massive Japan Quake

A massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit Japan several hours ago. Along with the aftershocks, some with a magnitude of 7.4, huge earthquakes in their own right, the country has been hit by a waves of tsunamis several meters high.

While earthquakes are common in Japan and the country is thoroughly prepared for these kind of disasters, the damage looks to be extensive and human loss is still being estimated.

With floods, collapsed buildings and fires to deal with, there is a lot of confusion in the region. Phones lines can barely keep up, but those looking for information on relatives and friends or for help have several other means at their disposal.

Google has launched a version of its Person Finder tool for the Japan earthquake. Those looking for loved ones or who have information on others can use the tool to share their knowledge or find out more.

It was launched a couple of hours ago and, already, there are 2900 records tracked. The number is growing fast, especially as the tool is now getting coverage and is shared by those affected.

The Person Finder was created for just this kind of catastrophes. Especially in the regions hit by the tsunamis, where people were evacuated or, worse still, were hit by surprise, the fate of tens of thousands or more is uncertain.

The online tool provides a common knowledge base where people and agencies can share and get information. Of course, this depends on internet access and there have been reports of massive power outages in the regions affected.

Google is also displaying a warning on its homepage, notifying people in the countries around the Pacific rim where the tsunamis are heading.

The earthquake is one of the largest in recorded history and one of the very largest to hit Japan. It's too early to know the full extent of the damage or the human loss, but it is likely to be big.