For the past few days, a climate of fear has won summer visitors on Tunisian beaches. Alarmist videos, non-verified voice messages and viral publications on social networks evoking dangerous sea currents, Tsunami risks or even an underwater earthquake caused a real collective psychosis, especially after the tragic death of little Mariem, recently carried by the sea.
It all started to broadcast false alerts circulating on Facebook, Tiktok, relayed at high speed. Some messages report “unusual sea movements”, others speak of an imminent “tsunami alert” or a marine earthquake felt in certain areas of the coast, without any confirmation from the authorities. The origin of these rumors remains unclear, but their impact is real: swimming canceled, and a climate of palpable anxiety, in particular in coastal areas very frequented as hammamet, Kélibia or Sousse.
Mariem’s drama, emotional trigger
The death of Mariem, a little girl swept away by the waves as she was bathed with her family, deeply turned public opinion. This drama was undoubtedly the emotional rocking point which intensified concerns. Although such drownings occur every summer, the emotion aroused by this case favored the emergence of an alarmist and sometimes irrational discourse, nourished by social networks.
Faced with this panic climb, civil protection services, coast guard and the National Meteorology Institute formally denied any seismic alert or in progress. They recall that no abnormal change has been recorded in marine movements and that the Mediterranean Sea remains, to date, a low risk area. Civil protection, however, emphasizes the importance of vigilance, especially during swimming in not monitored areas, and calls for not relaying unaccompanied information.
It is essential to recall that the sea has real dangers, especially in the event of strong currents, sudden weather changes or swimming outside authorized areas. But these dangers must be treated by prevention, education and help, not by fear and rumor. The multiplication of false information helps neither to save lives nor to secure summer visitors; It only feeds collective anxiety and divert attention from the real issues.
