Saudi authorities have denied online claims that eight members of one family had been killed in a traffic accident. The denial came after grief and condolences poured in on social media purportedly in reaction to a Saudi university student’s death after learning about the death of eight members of his family in a road crash.

Official Denial

The Saudi traffic directorate said in an X post that “what was circulated on social media sites about the death of eight persons from one family in a traffic accident is untrue”. The directorate called for getting information from official sources.

The Misinformation Spread

Social media reports had earlier spread like wildfire claiming that a student at King University named Meshari bin Khalid Al Subaiy passed away after receiving the devastating news of his family’s deaths. Their alleged deaths triggered an outpouring of grief on social media which carried a trending hashtag in remembrance of them. Some online mourners offered condolences over the alleged deaths.

But after the news proved fake, some turned to the Net and condemned the hoax.

Road Safety Measures

In recent years, Saudi authorities have toughened road measures and penalties for traffic violations to curb road crashes. Citing a 2023 World Health Organization report, Saudi Minister of Health Fahd Al Jalajel said in May that fatalities from traffic accidents in the kingdom had decreased by 50 per cent while resulting injuries fell by 35 per cent.