The most difficult task in the event of a devastating earthquake is to locate victims trapped underneath the rubble. A remarkable invention by three Indonesian students has now simplified this task.

The device which helps to locate victims is as small and slim as a credit card, but it can help save lives.

Deoterions

The pathbreaking device is named Detector of Interconnected Position Points or ‘Deoterions’. It is developed by a trio of Indonesian students of Brawijaya University. The device uses high-frequency signals to help locate victims after a natural disaster. Any movement as slight as breathing and as far as 10 km triggers a ping signal in the device. The students said that the signal receiver can be plugged into a mobile phone or laptop, and works with an app available on both Apple and Android systems.

Inspiration

One of the students, Satrio Wiradinata Riady Boer, 23, was inspired to make this device after his hometown of Padang on Sumatra island was hit by a 7.6 magnitude quake a decade ago. His mother was injured in this calamity and he lost his friend and a teacher. It is a race against time to trace victims after a quake because being buried for too long leads to numerous health complications.

The three Indonesian students have secured a patent for their prototype, which costs $7, but said they wanted to perfect the device before they think about making it available to the public. This device will benefit people of many nations that are susceptible to earthquakes throughout the year.