Local over Digital? An Empirical Analysis of Crisis Communication Strategies in the Bargi-Suviana Explosion

This study examines the crisis communication strategies employed during the Bargi-Suviana hydroelectric plant explosion in April 2024, aiming to explore the interplay between digital communication tools, organizational strategies, and the broader context of a multistakeholder crisis. Combining media content analysis of digital outputs and in-depth interviews with key informants, the research investigates the self-produced crisis communication of four key stakeholders – Enel, the Civil Protection Department, the Emilia-Romagna Region, and the National Fire Brigade – focusing on the integration of social media practices into broader crisis management plans. Findings reveal that communication strategies were shaped by both the nature of the crisis and the different roles and competencies of the involved organizations. The study further uncovers a range of deliberate and emergent communication strategies, highlighting the challenges of balancing digital and localized responses to address the humanitarian and environmental dimensions of the crisis.