Online personalities, including one with more than 10 million followers, along with a prominent TV host and a far-right activist, seized on the fact that rescuers had been unable to enter the car park, falsely claiming that it contained hundreds of bodies.
This week, as the water receded, they were roundly discredited by Spanish police and the army, who said the car park had been searched and no bodies had been found. It was just a glimpse of the speculation, false claims and hoaxes that have surged after the storm, straining a country already wrestling with the deaths of more than 200 people. "The disinformation started on Tuesday night," said Ximena Villagran of Maldita.es, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to factchecking. "And from that moment onwards, there was a significant explosion."
More than a week after the floods, her organisation has confirmed more than 60 related hoaxes, echoing the kind of spread often seen in elections or in Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Denne historien er fra November 08, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Denne historien er fra November 08, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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George says Jones regime successful but 'challenging'
The England captain, Jamie George, has admitted that Eddie Jones's regime could be \"challenging\" and empathises with Danny Care after his explosive claims about the Australian's setup, insisting that a toxic environment is not a necessary price to pay for success.
'He respects I'm in charge': Carsley has not spoken with Tuchel about England squad
Lee Carsley has revealed he is yet to speak to Thomas Tuchel about the England squad he will hand over to him in the new year.
Osimhen makes Spurs pay as Lankshear scores and sees red
When everyone had gathered breath, the only surprise was that Tottenham had run Galatasaray so close.
Diallo steps into Rashford's shoes to end United's wait for victory
Hold on to your hat: Manchester United are victorious in Europe after three consecutive Europa League draws and three more without winning in last term's Champions League.
Arsenal will take time to replace Edu
Arsenal plan to take their time over appointing Edu's successor as sporting director, with his deputy, Jason Ayto, set to step until the recruitment process has been completed.
'I had the same feeling as Harry: do Spurs really want to win?'
In exclusive extracts from his autobiography, the goalkeeper tells of the dismay he and others felt at how well the club took losing the 2019 Champions League final
Félix leads Chelsea's finishing masterclass
When the idea for the Europa Conference League first came to UEFA, it is unlikely that anybody in Nyon envisaged that one day a club of Chelsea's means would be pumping six unanswered first-half goals past an Armenian outfit who were only founded seven years ago.
Coventry end Robins' long reign
Coventry have made the surprise decision to sack Mark Robins, with the Championship club's board unhappy over \"the performance of the team over an extended period\", despite describing the 54-year-old as one of the Sky Blues' \"greatest ever managers\".
Trescothick wants 50-over change after latest defeat
Marcus Trescothick has said the current domestic structure is \"not helping\" England's new generation of white-ball cricketers.
Drivers warn FIA: start treating us like adults
Formula One drivers have demanded the FIA stops treating them like children in a damning indictment of the governing body's policies and its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
