Fake news claiming that people in Venezuela's quake zone have been discovered alive a month after the disaster struck is rapidly spreading across social media. This misinformation has exacerbated the already difficult situation for families with missing relatives, who continue to search for loved ones trapped under the rubble of flattened buildings following the 7.2 and 7.5 tremors that struck northern Venezuela on June 24.
Impact on Bereaved Families
A false claim that three people had been found alive in the worst-hit city of La Guaira's OPP 26 housing complex spread across social media on Wednesday night. The disinformation has made an already extremely difficult situation even worse for families with missing relatives. Some rushed to the site, clinging to hope.
Official Clarification
Venezuela's civil protection agency issued a statement to clarify that 'alleged rescues of survivors' at that address were 'false.' The agency emphasized the importance of verifying information before sharing it.
Humanitarian Crisis
The quakes killed over 5,000 people and injured almost 17,000 more. Over 23,000 people in the coastal state of La Guaira have been made homeless, and the United Nations estimates that up to 50,000 people are missing following the tragedy.
