History of Sorts

On February 12, 1949, Ecuador experienced one of the most bizarre and tragic events in its history, triggered by a radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds. This incident, which took place in the capital city of Quito, serves as a dramatic example of the power of mass media and the dangers of misinformation.

Background: The War of the Worlds and Its Impact

The War of the Worlds is a science fiction novel by H.G. Wells, first published in 1898. It tells the story of an invasion of Earth by Martians, describing the chaos and destruction that follows. The story became globally famous when Orson Welles adapted it into a radio drama for CBS in the United States on October 30, 1938. The broadcast, designed to sound like a real news report, caused widespread panic in parts of the U.S. as some listeners believed the country was truly under attack.

Over a decade later, a similar radio adaptation aired in Ecuador, but with far more devastating consequences.

The Quito Broadcast and Its Consequences

On the evening of February 12, 1949, Radio Quito, a well-respected station in Ecuador, aired a Spanish-language adaptation of The War of the Worlds. The program was presented in a realistic news bulletin style, interrupting regular programming with “emergency” reports about an alien invasion. As in the 1938 U.S. broadcast, many listeners believed the dramatization was real.

At 9:00 PM on the night of February 12th, the usual musical broadcast began. Midway through a song, the news team abruptly interrupted the program, announcing that Ecuador was under attack. Panic spread through the streets as police were dispatched to Cotocollao, the supposed site of a Martian invasion. The fabricated invasion was reported to be advancing from Latacunga, a town 20 miles south of the capital, Quito, where a deadly gas cloud was allegedly killing everything in its path. Actors impersonating well-known authority figures then took to the radio, further confirming the crisis.

The panic in Quito escalated rapidly. People fled their homes in terror, seeking shelter or trying to escape the supposed alien threat. Some individuals reportedly fainted from fear, while others gathered in churches to pray. The chaos soon turned into anger when citizens realized they had been deceived.

Violence and Tragedy

Unlike in the U.S., where the panic largely subsided after the truth was revealed, the reaction in Ecuador turned violent. Furious at the deception, a mob stormed the offices of El Comercio, the newspaper that owned Radio Quito. The building was set on fire, trapping journalists, radio staff, and innocent bystanders inside. Despite efforts to control the blaze, at least six people died in the incident, and many more were injured.

Aftermath and Impact

The tragic consequences of the 1949 Quito broadcast led to widespread discussions about media responsibility. Radio Quito was temporarily shut down, and the event sparked debates about the ethical limits of broadcasting fiction in a way that could incite panic. The incident remains one of the most extreme reactions to a radio drama in history.

This event serves as a cautionary tale about the influence of mass media and the responsibility that comes with it. It highlights the potential dangers of misinformation, fear, and mass hysteria—issues that remain relevant in the modern digital age.

sources

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/martians-land-in-quito_b_166776

https://aldianews.com/en/culture/heritage-and-history/other-war-worlds

The War of the Worlds in Ecuador

https://www.skepticality.com/assets/war_worlds_quito.htm