Facebook has activated its Safety Check feature for users in India after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the country’s remote northeast region, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 100.
The feature allows family and loved ones to check in with those affected by natural disasters to let them know they’re safe. The tool allows users to check in as “safe,” which sends a notification to their friends list.
“If you appear to be nearby, we’ll send you a notification to access Safety Check so you can share that you’re safe and see that people you care about are safe as well,” wrote CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a Facebook post. “My thoughts are with everyone in the affected areas. May you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy.”
In India, the powerful tremor left large cracks in walls, and a portion of a popular market building collapsed in Imphal. The area is dotted with small houses.
India’s Meteorological Department said the epicenter of the quake was in the Tamenglong region of Manipur. It struck before dawn at a depth of 17 kilometres (10 miles), not far from the border with Myanmar. The epicenter was 35 kilometres northwest of Imphal; a remote area with poor cellphone and Internet connections, which could mean the feature won’t be widely used.
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