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Two tourists say Google Maps mistakenly led them into the Australian wilderness.
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The German pair told 9News it took them more than a week to find a way to escape.
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A Google spokesperson said the road has been removed from maps.
Two German tourists say Google Maps mistakenly led them into the Australian wilderness and forced them into a grueling ordeal that lasted several days.
According to a report in Australian media 9News, Philippe Meyer and Marcel Schone tried to drive from the Australian city of Cairns to Bamaga by following Google’s navigation system to a remote location in Far North Queensland. We turned onto a dirt road leading to the location.
“We decided, ‘Okay, let’s follow Google Maps, because Google Maps probably knows more than we know,'” Meyer said.
The car got stuck in the mud after 57 miles, and the couple ended up spending more than a week hiking back to Cairns.
Tourists told 9News that they crossed rivers with crocodiles, endured extreme weather conditions such as thunderstorms and high temperatures, and slept under the stars after failing to build shelters.
A Google spokesperson told Business Insider: “We apologize for this incident and are relieved that Philippe and Marcel are safe. We can confirm that this road has been removed from maps.” Ta.
Google says it uses multiple sources to update its maps, including third-party data, user contributions, Street View, and satellite imagery.
But this isn’t the first time hikers have gotten into trouble following Google Maps directions.
Last year, after mountain rescue teams rescued three people in Vancouver, Canada, they warned climbers not to rely on urban mapping apps like Google Maps in the wilderness.
North Shore Rescue, a volunteer search and rescue team, said the hikers appeared to be following a trail that did not exist on Google Maps.
In a statement provided to BI at the time, a Google spokesperson confirmed that the trail had been removed and said, “To update Google Maps, we use a variety of sources, including third-party information, images, and community feedback. We use sources,” he added.
Read the original article on Business Insider
