In the wake of the devastating earthquakes that struck southern Türkiye and northern Syria on February 6, 2023, a high school student in Istanbul took it upon himself to address a critical gap in communication during disasters. Emirhan Duman, just 17 years old, recognized that when cellular and internet infrastructures falter, the need for reliable communication becomes paramount.
Crisis Connect: A New Approach to Communication
Duman’s innovative solution, named Crisis Connect, leverages Bluetooth technology to facilitate communication when traditional networks fail. By utilizing short-range frequencies, the app allows users to send messages and make calls without relying on cellular signals or satellite connections. This method is particularly effective in scenarios where individuals may be trapped in collapsed buildings or vehicles.
“I’ve been building Crisis Connect, an open-source project addressing communication outages during disasters, on my own since April 2025,” Duman explained. The inspiration for this project stemmed from the communication breakdowns experienced during the February earthquakes, prompting him to create a tool that could enable nearby phones to exchange messages seamlessly.
In a blog post for the United Nations, Duman described Bluetooth as “an untapped communication network sitting in millions of pockets.” Crisis Connect capitalizes on this potential by allowing messages to “hop” from one device to another, creating a network of communication that can reach even the most isolated individuals in a community.
By default, the app conserves battery life by disabling this relay feature, but in emergencies, users can activate it to connect with family, friends, and emergency services. Duman emphasizes the importance of preemptive planning, noting that users should establish connections with their neighbors and loved ones before disaster strikes. “Those connections are then designed to keep working when internet and cellular services are unavailable,” he stated.
Crisis Connect is not just a messaging platform; it also includes essential features for emergency situations, such as SOS beacons, a compass, an ultra-high frequency digital whistle, live location broadcasting, and even a metal detector. However, Duman remains realistic about the app’s limitations, cautioning against overpromising its capabilities. He acknowledges that while smartphone mesh communication can be a valuable tool, it is not a replacement for established emergency systems.
“It can help fill a gap during the first hours after impact, when survivors need to reach nearby people and communication infrastructure is damaged, overloaded, or unavailable,” he wrote. Crisis Connect is available for free on both the App Store and Google Play, and its open-source code invites developers worldwide to contribute to its improvement.
