Brussels Attacks: Google Offers Free Calls Via Hangouts to Belgium and Turkey

Google on Wednesday announced that it will offer free calls via Hangouts, Hangouts Dialer, or Google Voice to Belgium and Turkey. The announcement came in the wake of Brussels attacks that took place early on Tuesday.

People who want to connect with their family and friends in Belgium and Turkey can make free calls using Hangouts to Lycamobile, Mobistar, Proximus, and Telenet, which are Belgium’s mobile carriers. People can also make calls to landlines in Turkey.

Apart from free calls, Google will be also offering people in and around Brussels with transit updates and a direct link to the Government Crisis Centre via Google Now cards.

“We are deeply saddened and appalled by the bombings in Brussels today, and by the recent violence in Turkey. Our thoughts are with the victims of these attacks, and their families,” the firm said in a Google+ post. The search engine giant says that it has also added the resources on Google for related searches.

On Tuesday, Facebook activated its Safety Check feature for users to inform others that they are safe after the Brussels terrorist attacks. The social network had previously activated its Safety Check feature after terrorist attacks in Paris and the floods in Chennai.

In the wake of Brussels attacks, Twitter users expressed support and showed solidarity with iconic fountain which has been drawing tourists to Brussels’ city. Soon after the attacks, Twitter was flooded with tweets from people to offer help to others. The hashtag “Brussels Lift” was being used by people to ask for rides and offer car spaces.