Shadows of Shaking Ground: How Misinformation and Panic Travel Faster Than Earthquakes

 

The earthquake that struck Bangladesh on 21 November 2025 not only shook buildings, infrastructures, and geological plates. It unsettled social behaviour, exposed weaknesses in crisis communication, and revealed how quickly digital platforms can produce their own aftershocks. The physical quake lasted seconds, but the informational quake that followed rippled for hours. Understanding why misinformation spreads so rapidly, why panic amplifies in crowded digital spaces, and how public behaviour responds to uncertainty is essential in a country where urban density, fragile infrastructure, and social media dependence create a combustible mix during disasters.

Modern disaster sociology argues that people rarely panic purely because of physical danger. Panic emerges when individuals feel a lack of control, a lack of reliable information, and an absence of institutional guidance. The 2025 earthquake offered a textbook case of this behavioural chain. Within minutes of the tremors, Facebook posts, TikTok videos, and WhatsApp messages circulated warning of a possible “second quake,” “imminent 8.0 aftershock,” or “building collapses across Dhaka,” even when none of this had been confirmed. Many urban residents rushed into the streets, some stayed trapped on upper floors, not knowing whether the stairs were safe, while others fled apartment buildings barefoot, believing rumours that “multi-storey structures are swaying and about to fall.”

This behavioural volatility is deeply connected to the architecture of Bangladeshi megacities. Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet are characterized by dense settlements, poorly regulated construction, and high-rise apartments that house millions who depend on unverified online updates during crises. When people live in fragile buildings and already distrust regulatory authorities, misinformation gains credibility. The earthquake did not create fear as much as it activated existing anxieties about unsafe construction, corrupt inspection systems, and inadequate emergency response. In such a context, misinformation becomes both an outlet for fear and a catalyst for behavioural escalation.

Social media platforms acted as accelerators rather than moderators. The speed at which information travels on these platforms is unmatched by traditional institutions. In the first thirty minutes after the earthquake, many residents turned to social media before seeking updates from official agencies. Algorithms reward engagement, not accuracy, and sensational content spreads because it triggers emotions. Earthquake-related misinformation was highly emotional. Posts claiming that dams had cracked, that critical bridges were collapsing or that hospitals had issued emergency evacuation notices created emotional contagion, pushing people to share first and verify later. This form of digital panic reflects what communication theorists describe as “collective sense-making in crisis,” a process where communities try to create meaning through shared narratives, even if those narratives are inaccurate.

The behaviour of people in vulnerable groups highlighted deeper layers of social inequality. Elderly individuals, especially those living alone, struggled to understand conflicting information. Many lacked digital literacy but still received fragmented updates from neighbours and relatives, leaving them more anxious. Hospital patients and the sick faced even greater risks. There were scenes of confusion in emergency wards, where staff had to calm patients who believed rumours that buildings were unsafe and evacuations were mandatory. Students in multi-storey dormitories rushed downstairs, leading to minor injuries and chaos because social media posts warned that “hostels collapse first.” Workers in factories and garments jumped from staircases, reacting to messages circulated within employee groups that “the building has cracks,” even when these were unverified.

Schools faced another dimension of panic. Parents rushed to pick up their children after receiving screenshots from anonymous posts claiming that another major tremor was expected. For many parents, the fear was not only of the quake itself but the lack of trust in institutional preparedness. The sudden rush of guardians created traffic jams and increased street-level anxiety, further stretching the emergency response system. The chain reaction shows how misinformation triggers physical risks even when the original danger has passed.

Urban megacities, already suffering from infrastructural pressure, became zones of amplified fear. Dhaka’s unplanned growth has created a public consciousness that associates disasters with systemic collapse. Bridges, culverts, flyovers, and underpasses are perceived as vulnerable even on regular days. During the quake, online rumours that a major flyover had cracked spread so fast that commuters avoided entire routes, causing citywide congestion. Drone footage circulated on social media showing old cracks in various structures, misleading viewers into thinking the earthquake caused them. The crisis highlighted how digital platforms can weaponize visual content, especially when contextual information is missing.

Sociologically, the earthquake demonstrated that misinformation thrives where trust is weak. Public confidence in agencies responsible for geological forecasting, emergency warnings, and structural safety has long been fragile. People are aware that Bangladesh sits on active fault lines, yet there is limited public communication about preparedness, simulation exercises, or safe evacuation protocols. When institutional silence meets digital noise, citizens rely on peer networks, which can be sources of solidarity but also sources of rumours. Because the government did not immediately issue a coordinated set of instructions across all media channels, the information vacuum was quickly filled by amateur “experts” offering contradictory advice. This is a classic pattern in crisis communication failures.

The psychological dimension is equally important. Earthquakes create a unique form of fear because they strike without warning. Unlike cyclones or floods, which Bangladeshis have generations of experience navigating, earthquakes remain unpredictable and poorly understood. This uncertainty creates fertile ground for behavioural extremes. Many individuals experience the “fight-flight-freeze” response. Some ran outdoors even when unsafe, others froze in confusion, and some took proactive but misguided actions based on rumours. Panic, in this sense, is a social behaviour as much as a psychological one. When people witness others panicking, they mirror that behaviour, especially in insecure environments like crowded high-rises.

The media landscape added complexity. Television channels attempted to provide updates, but many relied on unverified footage from social media. In breaking-news culture, speed outranks accuracy, leading to contradictions that further dilute public trust. Some channels broadcast predictions from non-experts about aftershocks, which fuelled anxiety. In contrast, official agencies such as the Bangladesh Meteorological Department and the Department of Disaster Management struggled to provide timely, unified messaging. This institutional lag contributed to the informational chaos.

However, the crisis also revealed positive patterns. Communities helped one another both online and offline. Many social media users took on the role of “digital volunteers,” debunking false claims and circulating verified updates from credible sources. Doctors, engineers, and disaster management experts used live videos to clarify misinformation about building safety and aftershock probabilities. These counter-narratives helped slow the spiral of panic, although they could not thoroughly neutralize the volume of misinformation.

To understand the broader implications, it is essential to situate the 2025 earthquake within global disaster communication trends. Worldwide, misinformation has become a parallel hazard during natural disasters. From wildfires in California to earthquakes in Turkey and Nepal, digital fear spreads faster than scientific updates. Bangladesh, with high population density, rapid urbanization, and heavy reliance on social media, is particularly vulnerable. The November earthquake shows that disaster management today requires not just physical preparedness but informational preparedness.

Strengthening public behaviour during disasters depends on improving trust, digital literacy, and institutional communication. People need clarity on evacuation protocols, building safety guidelines, and the difference between natural aftershocks and false alarms. Authorities must adapt to the speed of digital ecosystems by releasing quick, simplified updates that counter rumours before they spread. Community-based awareness programs should include training on responsible social media use during emergencies. The involvement of local influencers, community leaders, and credible experts can also help bridge the communication gap.

Urban planning and infrastructure safety must also be addressed. When people believe their surroundings are unsafe, misinformation becomes more believable. Reducing physical vulnerability reduces psychological vulnerability. Conducting regular building inspections, enforcing construction codes, and publicly sharing safety certification reports can gradually restore public confidence.

The 21 November earthquake revealed a society caught between physical fragility and digital vulnerability. It exposed how social media can amplify fear, but also how it can be used to correct misinformation. It showed that panic is not irrational; it is a rational reaction to uncertainty in a context where trust is thin. If Bangladesh wants to prepare for future earthquakes, it must prepare not only its buildings and emergency services but also its information ecosystem and public psychology.

The tremors of the earthquake have subsided, but the tremors of misinformation continue to echo. Managing them requires recognizing that disasters today unfold simultaneously in the physical world and the digital world. Understanding and addressing public behaviour across both realms is essential for building a resilient, informed, and calmer society.

 
Dr. Matiur Rahman is a researcher
and a development professional.