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Networking sites help rescue the stranded

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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 17:18

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EMUworld

With travel information websites crashing under the constant pressure of online inquiries, stranded travellers have turned their attention to social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.

With most flights in and out of western Europe grounded, social networking websites emerged as an essential tool for flyers seeking ways of reaching their destination.

Right from the Calais Rescue service which was organized through Twitter to bring foot passengers from across France back home in a small boat, to Skjutsgruppen, to the Swedish carpool movement putting together lifts from across Europe on Facebook, social networking and wireless technology managed to find a new purpose in the situation.

Estonia, a minnow nation known for being internet savvy, on Monday said it had turned to Twitter and Facebook to help its nationals stranded across Europe.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Kersti Luha said the government was using the microblogging service and social networking site to keep Estonians informed about ways to get home overland.

“We’ve turned our ministry sites at Twitter and Facebook into the main source of help for our passengers trapped all over Europe,” Luha said. “Anyone wishing to return home can look at these sites to see whether there are free seats available at buses or cars coming from where they are to Estonia,” she added.

Twitter users found succour by searching on themes, or “hash tags”. The most popular were #getmehome and #stranded. Each allowed people to reach potential liftsharers and others in the same boat (or train or cab).

Norwegian PM Jens Stoltenberg who was stranded in New York was using an iPad to run his government remotely, according to his press secretary.