Facebook Activates 'Safety Check' Feature in Wake of Deadly Brussels Attacks
At least 34 people have been confirmed dead in multiple explosions in Brussels.
— -- Facebook has turned on its Safety Check feature for those impacted by the deadly attacks in Brussels this morning.
The feature lets you check on your friends and loved ones on Facebook. It also lets those in the region mark themselves as “safe,” “unsafe” or “not in the area.” Their Facebook friends will then get an alert on their own news feeds.
There were two explosions in the departure hall of Brussels Airport in Zaventem, Belgium, at about 8 a.m. local time today, according to Prime Minister Charles Michel, where officials said at least 14 people were killed. Three Americans, Mormon missionaries, were "seriously injured" in the blasts, according to Eric Hawkins, a spokesman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
There was also an explosion a little over an hour later on the rail tracks at the Maelbeek subway station, according to a spokeswoman for Brussels transportation department. At least 20 people were killed there, officials said.
Facebook unveiled Safety Check back in 2014. It was initially used as a tool for those impacted by natural disasters.
The attacks in Paris four months ago were the first time Facebook activated the feature for a terrorist attack.
Safety Check can be accessed here.