RescueBLE

Diego Bardalez Plaza

About this app

RescueBLE is a disaster rescue app that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to help locate people trapped under rubble, without needing internet, GPS, or cell towers.

It was created on the night of the Venezuela earthquakes of June 24, 2026 (magnitude 7.2 and 7.5), when hundreds of people were trapped and rescuers had no way of locating them.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

🆘 VICTIM MODE
If you are trapped, open the app and activate Victim Mode. Your phone will automatically start emitting a continuous Bluetooth signal. You don't need to do anything else—the signal works even if your screen is off or you are injured.

🔍 RESCUER MODE
Rescue teams activate Rescuer Mode to detect nearby signals. The app displays detected devices sorted by proximity and plays a beep that speeds up the closer you get to the victim—like a metal detector, but for people.

FEATURES
• Works without internet, GPS, or infrastructure
• BLE signal that penetrates rubble up to ~15 meters
• Proximity audio with variable speed depending on distance
• Compatible with screen off
• Does not collect or transmit any personal data
• Free and open-source

REQUIREMENTS
• Android 5.0 or higher
• Bluetooth enabled
• Location permission (required by Android to scan BLE)

RescueBLE is not a replacement for professional rescue teams, but in the first few minutes after a collapse—when every second matters—it can make all the difference.