{"id":24385,"date":"2025-09-23T16:00:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T14:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cienciagandia.webs.upv.es\/?p=21426"},"modified":"2025-10-06T22:15:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T20:15:00","slug":"how-the-fake-stories-about-the-dana-took-shape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cienciagandia.webs.upv.es\/en\/2025\/09\/how-the-fake-stories-about-the-dana-took-shape\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Fake Stories About the DANA Took Shape"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the aftermath of the powerful DANA that hit Spain\u2019s Valencia province in October 2024, authorities confronted not only a historic climate emergency but also a parallel crisis of misinformation\u2014ranging from viral hoaxes to conspiracy theories and fake news<\/strong>. A recent study<\/a> involving Campus Gandia of the Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Val\u00e8ncia (UPV) examined in detail how misinformation shaped public perception of the tragedy and hampered the official response.<\/p>\n

\"foto<\/p>\n

The research, led by Professor Germ\u00e1n Llorca Abad<\/a> of Campus Gandia in collaboration with Professor Alberto E. L\u00f3pez Carri\u00f3n of the International University of Valencia (VIU), was recently published in the Mediterranean Journal of Communication.<\/p>\n

\"Germ\u00e1n<\/p>\n

The authors reviewed 185 news articles published between October 28 and November 17, 2024, in leading national and local newspapers, identifying 192 fake stories that spread during the disaster\u2019s most critical period<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

False Rumors That Sparked Widespread Social and Emotional Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the most notorious cases involved the Bonaire shopping center parking lot in Aldaia, where false claims circulated that hundreds of bodies were trapped in submerged vehicles.. This misinformation was amplified by influencers and media personalities, spreading widely across platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Conspiracy narratives also spread rapidly, accusing the government of destroying dams “built during the Franco regime” and claiming that AEMET withheld crucial information about the rainfall.<\/p>\n

According to the study, three out of four false rumors consisted of deliberately fabricated content intended to mislead, and 75% were disseminated through open or closed social networks such as X, Instagram, and WhatsApp. “Most of the content carried a strong emotional charge, crafted to provoke outrage, fear, or distrust of institutions,” says Germ\u00e1n Llorca<\/p>\n

In some instances, these falsehoods were propagated by journalists or contributors to television programs. The analysis reveals that 28% of false rumors originated from or were circulated within professional journalistic circles, raising serious questions about editorial oversight during crisis situations. Despite this, the authors emphasize the role of certain media outlets that actively helped debunk false information, as well as the efforts of fact-checking platforms such as Maldita.es, Newtral, and VerificaRTVE.<\/p>\n

“Diagonalism” and the Political Instrumentalization of Information<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the study\u2019s most innovative contributions is the application of the concept of diagonalism, a communication strategy that the researchers note was particularly evident during this crisis. This movement blends far-right discourse with themes traditionally associated with the left, such as criticism of institutional power and elites. The goal is to tap into public discontent from multiple ideological angles and exploit uncertainty to reinforce narratives of distrust.<\/p>\n

During the DANA, this strategy led to targeted attacks on the government, scientific organizations, and NGOs such as C\u00e1ritas and the Red Cross. “In catastrophic situations, attempts to discredit institutions are exploited to create chaos in the news and politically mobilize certain groups,” explains Alberto L\u00f3pez-Carri\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, social media algorithms\u2014which prioritize the most viral content rather than the most accurate\u2014amplified these messages, accelerating their rapid spread. “Extreme emotions, such as indignation or fear, drive the highest levels of engagement\u00a0 \u2014and fake news exploits these emotions,” the authors conclude.<\/p>\n

Greater Institutional and Digital Responsibility<\/strong><\/p>\n

The study concludes with a clear call to action: it is urgent to enhance citizens\u2019 media literacy, improve institutional mechanisms for responding to information crises, and demand greater transparency and accountability from digital platforms.<\/p>\n

Although the government activated official social media accounts to counter disinformation, these efforts were delayed and had limited reach. Researchers recommend implementing streamlined emergency communication protocols and fostering stronger collaboration between public institutions, media outlets, and oversight bodies.<\/p>\n

“Combating fake news is not only a matter of truth but also a critical issue for public health and social cohesion,” argue L\u00f3pez-Carri\u00f3n and Llorca-Abad. They caution: “If we do not act decisively, the next emergency will be not only climatic but also informational.”<\/p>\n