In a joint statement, the Civil Protection Unit and the Meteorological Services Department warned against sensationalist and erroneous messages on social media regarding disasters such as earthquakes.
Part of the statement reads:
Of concern are some messages that have now gone overboard to the extent of misleading the general public such as where and when the next earthquake will take place and that people should sleep outdoors.
While we have no problem with social media, we take exception to those messages that become sensational on matters of life and death.
Accordingly, let us respect the authoritative voice principle which ensures that all official communication on warnings and alerts that are a matter of life and death come from a single source. Too many sources of information may lead to confusion under these circumstances. A recognised or designated authority communiqué enables a person to make informed decisions based on official information. In Zimbabwe, the Meteorological Services Department is responsible for monitoring earthquakes. The general public in the country is urged to check with the department for confirmation and decision making.
It costs nothing to check
More: Chronicle