Diary #06
Embedded Files
THE RUMOURS DURING THE VALENCIA FLOOD
THE RUMOURS DURING THE VALENCIA FLOOD
EU PARTNER
A real tragedy, false messages about victims and information received from trusted people.
THE STORY
THE STORY
In October 2024, exceptional rainfall hits the Valencian Community in Spain, causing devastating floods. While rescue teams are working in the affected areas, alarming messages circulate on social media and messaging applications.
One of the most widely discussed cases concerns the underground car park of the Bonaire shopping centre in Aldaia. Some content claims that hundreds of people died there and that the authorities are hiding the real number of victims. Unverified audio recordings, out-of-context videos and unsupported claims are presented as confirmation.
A representative of the Municipality of Lorxa, a Spanish partner in ELECTRA, recounts personally receiving messages of this kind through WhatsApp and social networks. The fact that they were shared by known and trusted people initially contributed to making them seem plausible.
The tragedy was real; amid the uncertainty of the emergency, distinguishing verified news from a rumour became difficult.
The participant recounts consulting official communications and fact-checking sources, eventually recognising that those claims were not reliable.
Public documentation confirms that the rumours about the car park were false: the authorities reported that no fatalities had been found inside it during inspections. Maldita.es and EFE Verifica analysed many of the images, audio recordings and narratives circulated online. This does not call into question the severity of the flood and its actual victims.
For the Spanish partner, the case highlights a particular risk in small communities, where personal networks are essential for helping one another and sharing news, but can also transmit inaccurate messages.
Pause, check, share.
The Municipality of Lorxa proposes a practice called "Pause, Check, Share". Before forwarding a message, especially if it provokes fear or anger, it suggests looking for its origin, checking the date and comparing it with institutional sources and independent fact-checking organisations.
The partner proposes teaching this habit through intergenerational workshops as well, in which young and older people can practise together how to recognise misleading headlines, verify images and distinguish facts from opinions.
It is not an invitation to stop trusting people. It is an invitation to distinguish the trust we place in someone from the reliability of the content they pass on to us, even in good faith.
BEYOND THE STORY
— When an information crisis accompanies an emergency
BEYOND THE STORY
— When an information crisis accompanies an emergency
During an emergency, we need timely and verifiable information: it helps us understand risks and find our bearings. In a context already marked by uncertainty, an unfounded rumour can fuel fear and mistrust.
The Bonaire case reminds us that misleading content can attach itself to a real event and add false details, or use irrelevant material as supposed evidence. Verification therefore means checking not only images and claims, but also their origin and context.
Responsibility is not only individual. Citizens can exercise care before sharing; institutions must communicate clearly and accessibly; journalists and fact-checkers help make independent verification available. Information resilience is also a community practice.
Sources and further readingThe Bonaire car park case is documented by independent fact-checking:
A QUESTION FOR YOU
A QUESTION FOR YOU
If you received an alarming message from someone you trust during an emergency, what would you do before sharing it with others?
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