I'm with you. I find the "accidental" engagement of a device like this to be as likely as finding an activated marine EPIRB in the middle of a desert.
It could be that the location given in the article is itself a key to someone's plan, and the media have unwittingly announced either a "go" signal or a step in a more complicated scenario.
After googling EPIRB...LOL, I'd agree with you on that.