Venezuela Earthquake: Developer’s Platform Lists 29,486 People as Unreachable
A Venezuelan software developer used artificial intelligence to build a missing-persons platform within four and a half hours of the two major earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24. Nearly four months later, the website had received 82,610 reports about missing people. After volunteers reviewed the submissions and removed duplicate entries, 29,486 people remained listed […]
Nearly four months after a pair of earthquakes struck Venezuela, the death toll has been estimated at 6,509, far more than the official report of 6,509. Independent estimates and missing-person databases suggest a much higher death toll, with thousands of people still unaccounted for. Jorge Bastidas, a Venezuelan software developer, built a missing-persons platform in just four and half hours after the earthquakes using artificial intelligence.
Initially receiving 82,610 reports, the platform currently lists 29,486 people as unreachable after removing duplicates. Volunteers manually review the submissions to verify their legitimacy and remove duplicates. However, the platform has faced challenges such as false submissions, inappropriate content, and even cyberattacks that altered thousands of records.
Authorities have only reported 6,509 deaths, while estimates from independent groups suggest significantly higher casualties.
Written by urgent.news from Colombia One's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
