BEIJING -?The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced Wednesday that in the last six months 260 missing children had been found thanks to a mobile app.

In May 15, the MPS launched "Tuanyuan," or reunion, an app where police release information on missing children.

Over the past six months, more than 280 updates on missing children have been posted on the app, and the 260 children found include 18 who had been trafficked, 27 reported lost, 152 who had run away from home, as well as 52 who had died from drowning or other reasons, according to the MPS.

The app helps to ensure efficient information sharing and collaboration between police in different regions, and encourages witnesses to report the whereabouts of missing or trafficked children, the MPS said.

A new version of the app was launched Wednesday, which will expand its reach through cooperation with other popular mobile apps.