Surigao del Norte Residents Engage in Panic Buying Due to Fake News Claiming Earth Will Be Covered in Darkness for 3 Days
Surigao del Norte residents engaged in panic buying rice due to fake news that Earth would experience three days of darkness.
The residents found themselves caught up in panic buying rice due to fake news claiming that the world would be covered in darkness for three days following a solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
According to Socorro Empowered People’s Cooperative chair Edelito Sangco, residents of the town of Socorro believed the news about the impending darkness that was supposedly going to last for three days.
The claims caused fear among residents, leading to a depletion of rice stocks in local stores. Sangco learned about the panic buying from store owners.
Previously, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) debunked a viral social media post claiming that starting April 8, the Earth would experience three days of darkness.
According to PAGASA, a total solar eclipse known as the “Great North American Eclipse” would occur on April 8, but it would not be visible in the Philippines.
Furthermore, the weather bureau stated that there is no scientific evidence to suggest that the world would experience three days of total darkness due to “Photon Belts.”
“Photon Belts” is a term that refers to a hypothetical concept in astronomy and pseudoscience. This concept claims that Earth passes through a region in space called a “photon belt” every 11,000 or so years, resulting in three days of darkness.
The incident reminds the public of the importance of verifying information before believing and spreading it.
Fake news can cause unnecessary panic and harm, as seen in the case of the panic buying of rice in Surigao del Norte. It emphasizes the need for critical thinking and reliance on credible sources of information to avoid falling victim to misinformation.
In a previous report, Cebu residents go on panic buying due to rumored lockdown in the city