The National Police Agency launched Saturday a page on its official website requesting residents to post information regarding the on the ground situation in the event of major disasters, with the aim of expediting the dispatch of first responders and the regulation of traffic.
Residents are asked to upload photos and videos of the scene in the event they witness damage, such as collapsed buildings, damaged roads or flooded rivers. They are also asked to share location data from their smartphones or other mobile devices to pinpoint where the images were taken.
The posted photos and videos will be shared with the appropriate prefectural police headquarters. The NPA is also planning to share this information with firefighters and other first responders. The site will only be functional when heavy damage is expected, and the NPA will disclose this information via its Twitter account.
This page is not a platform to report damage or request emergency aid. Residents will need to call 110 in the event of an emergency.
The NPA urges residents to "be very careful of your surroundings before taking photos and videos and posting them onto the site."
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