Fake news keeps scared Indonesian quake victims in shelters
- A 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s remote Maluku Islands on September 26, killing 37 people
- A stream of hoaxes and fake news about a bigger tsunami-generating quake has resulted in thousands of residents staying in shelters
A state of emergency has been declared until Wednesday, with nearly 135,000 people in evacuation shelters and tents.
Many displaced people are too scared to return to their homes in the remote Maluku Islands after the area suffered more than 1,000 aftershocks following a 6.5-magnitude quake on September 26, the agency said.
The strong jolt killed 37 people, including several young children, and injured dozens of others.
More than 6,000 houses were damaged, according to official figures.
Terrified residents ran into the streets following the quake, which sparked landslides that buried at least one of the victims.
Fears about aftershocks have been aggravated by a stream of hoaxes and fake news – mostly on WhatsApp and other messaging services – that warned a tsunami-generating quake was about to strike.
“It’s up to you if you want to believe me or not, but I talked with my relative and apparently Ambon is going to sink in the next few days,” said one message circulated on WhatsApp.
