Introduction
The earthquake that occurred near Sines, Portugal, on August 26, 2024, with a magnitude of 5.3, not only shook the ground but also highlighted the critical role of VOST Portugal's digital volunteers. Here we look at how we operate during these types of events, showing their impact through real-time engagement on platforms like Twitter (now X)
Immediate activation and disclosure of information
- Rapid response: VOST Portugal was among the first to share official details after the earthquake, ensuring that the public quickly received accurate information. The first message was posted on Twitter at 5:33 a.m. (22 minutes after the earthquake), and immediately reassured our followers about the non-existent tsunami risk.
- Involvement: After these messages we encouraged our followers to fill out the official IPMA questionnaire. Filling in the questionnaire not only helps in collecting data for seismic studies but also involves the community in scientific efforts. The link to the IPMA questionnaire was used more than 5700 times by our followers. This appeal demonstrated, unfortunately, the lack of capacity of the technological infrastructure of the IPMA website, which should be rethought in order to be able to deal with this type of traffic when an earthquake occurs in our territory.
Community support and education
- Educational content: As usual, VOST Portugal took complex themes and turned them into language accessible to all, explaining tectonic movements in simple terms, and other more technical concepts so that our followers are more informed.
- Ensuring calm and countering disinformation: By addressing common fears and providing factual updates, VOSTPT plays a crucial role in managing public anxiety, as seen in its response to the earthquake in Morocco or during forest fires in Portugal, advising against disseminating unverified information. More and more natural disasters attract disinformation hotspots that VOST Portugal fights with facts.
Technology integration and trust
- Use of technology: At VOSTPT we use platforms, such as Twitter, for real-time updates, which is critical today during a crisis. Platforms like Facebook, however, are not ideal for crisis communication due to their non-chronological algorithm. Our messages often link to official resources or provide direct information to our followers, with indications of additional official resources.
- Building trust: By being a reliable source of information, @VOSTPT helps maintain public trust in times of crisis, which is essential for effective management.
Results
Despite the dissemination of content on other platforms – Mastodon, BlueSky, Threads – the biggest impact for disseminating information during a crisis continues to happen on the social network Twitter. Our content has been viewed more than 823 thousand times on that social network, and disseminated by various accounts that can be considered as opinion makers and decision-makers.
Conclusion
The activation of VOSTPT during the Sines earthquake exemplifies the power of digital volunteering in crisis management. Our approach, which combines the rapid dissemination of information with community engagement and education, not only helps in the immediate response but also builds a more informed and resilient society. This role goes beyond the mere sharing of information; it is about promoting a culture of preparation and calm in the face of the unpredictability of nature.
English