Earth Science News
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Online disinformation exacerbates Spain flood disaster
Online disinformation exacerbates Spain flood disaster
By Natalia SANGUINO
Madrid (AFP) Nov 7, 2024

The disinformation inundating social media during Spain's catastrophic floods threatened the crucial work of emergency services and exploited fear, anger and grief, an AFP investigation has found.

The European nation's worst floods in a generation have killed more than 210 people, left dozens missing and submerged entire towns in mud, particularly in the eastern Valencia region.

False messages multiplied on the web as torrential rains lashed Spain on October 29, with one targeting residents living near the Magro and Mijares rivers who saw an evacuation warning supposedly issued by the authorities.

Although officials warned locals to stay away from the riverbanks, they never asked them to leave their homes as the fake messages claimed.

The Virtual Operations Support Team, an association of volunteers who monitor social media during crises, told AFP such misinformation sparks chaos.

It risked seeing panicked residents scrambling to leave their towns "in a disorderly way" on motorways destroyed by the floods, "blocking access to emergency vehicles", it said.

Equally dangerous for public security was a message claiming to provide an alternative emergency number to call if the official 112 line was down.

- 'Destroyed dams' -

Such was the quantity of disinformation during the first two days of the disaster that the Valencia region's leader Carlos Mazon and fire service chief Jose Miguel Basset felt compelled to intervene.

"They've spoken about evacuations, overflowing, the bursting of dams: none of that has been correct, but it has notably interrupted the emergency services' work," said Basset.

Popular fury at the authorities for their perceived inaction before and after the devastation led to a search for culprits and another source of misinformation -- the government's alleged "destruction of dams".

The narrative has existed for a while in Spain without ever being substantiated.

In 2023, the AEMS -- Rivers with Life association told AFP that dismantled, disused or ruined dams could cause or exacerbate floods. But Spain has destroyed no large dam in recent years.

Some internet users sprung on the disaster to claim the exceptionally powerful Mediterranean storm that triggered it was the work of "climate geoengineering", ruling out the influence of climate change which they deny.

However, the science is clear. Neither so-called "chemtrails" -- streaks of condensation in the sky left by planes -- nor the HAARP project that studies the Earth's outer atmosphere were behind the storm.

The rainfall was 12 percent heavier and twice as likely compared to the world before global warming, the World Weather Attribution group of scientists have said.

"Climate change kills and we are seeing it," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said this week, hitting out at the "irresponsible discourse of deniers".

- Car park 'hoax' -

The hostile reception that greeted King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Sanchez and Mazon in the ground-zero town of Paiporta last week also generated an explosion of online disinformation.

A photograph of a convoy of police vehicles purporting to show Felipe's escort was actually a group of Madrid officers arriving in the area.

In another viral image, a firefighter was seen "crying" after emerging from an underground car park in the town of Aldaia where hundreds of people were feared to have drowned.

The photographer told AFP his image captured the firefighter's exhaustion rather than sadness.

Spain's national police chief Francisco Pardo condemned the "hoax" in a televised address on Tuesday. The government confirmed on Wednesday that rescuers had found no bodies after all the water had been pumped out.

ns/imm/sbk

TEAM SA

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Smart-Connect advances space tech for disaster response solutions
Paris, France (SPX) Nov 03, 2024
During disaster situations, effective communication becomes essential, but often ground networks are compromised. This issue leaves both the general public and emergency responders with limited access to critical information. Bandwidth shortages can significantly delay emergency operations, leading to loss of life. Recent calamities such as severe floods and wildfires highlight the growing necessity for advanced technologies that enhance disaster response. To address this, the European Space Agenc ... read more

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
French court jails 18 members of Channel people smuggling gang

Flood mishandling fuels fury at Spain royals, PM: experts

Having weathered Trump's first term, UN braces for more turmoil

Spain unveils $11 bn aid plan after catastrophic floods

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
New laser technology speeds up landmine detection process

New 3D printed metal alloy enhances durability for space exploration

Laser measurements aid in tracking space debris and mapping Earth's water resources

To tackle plastic scourge, Philippines makes companies pay

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
New UMass model sheds light on carbon emissions from inland US waters

Thousands take to London streets demanding cleaner water

No 'island of garbage' here, Puerto Rico's new marine reserve

Oceanographers record the largest predation event ever observed in the ocean

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
The shifting history of North America's ancient ice sheet

Greenland eyes tourism takeoff with new airport runway

Austria's Alpine refuges and trails crumble as climate warms

Greenland seeks to capitalise on 'last-chance tourism'

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Making agriculture more resilient to climate change

France says still room for negotiation over China's brandy tariffs

Surf and Turf: Oregon State researchers to study feeding seaweed to cattle

Czech Republic curbs animal movement over bluetongue spread

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Rafael cuts power in Cuba; Thousands flee Typhoon Yinxing in Philippines

Newly detected seismic wave may enable earlier warnings for remote oceanic eruptions

Cuba on alert as Hurricane Rafael approaches

More than 66,000 Cubans evacuated over flooding fears

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
East DR Congo truce monitors to begin operations Tuesday

UK FM Lammy vows 'new approach' ahead of Africa trip

Chad denies anti-jihadist operation hit civilians

Guinea junta chief promotes self to army general

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Gentrification Fuels Alienation Among East Asian Urban Residents, Study Finds

Colombia's Awa people resist violence, maintain 'spiritual bond' with nature

A SMART method to enhance effectiveness of cartilage repair therapy

Artificial intelligence forms external cognitive system, reshaping human thought processes

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.