Google People Finder launches Japan earthquake site

Google's People Finder is running a site for people affected by the Japan earthquake.

All data entered into the publicly searchable People Finder database is available to anyone and acts as a message board and directory allowing people to search for those they are worried about or post information saying they are safe.

Although the software giant does not review or verify the accuracy of the data, the Google tool has given invaluable help at times of other disasters.

People Finder was first used after the Haiti earthquake and was extensively used for information following the recent quake in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The app offers two options initially in both English and Japanese 'I'm looking for someone' or 'I have information about someone'.

People can embed the tool on their website or social networking pages so it reaches as wide an audience as possible. Since it was set up in the aftermath of the quake in Japan, the site has logged well over a thousand reports from people and agencies.