Facebook data show how many people left Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria

An ad platform on the site could be used to quickly track migrations after natural disasters

Puerto Rico

TRACKING MIGRANTS  After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, many residents fled to the mainland United States. Researchers estimated that exodus using Facebook data — evidence that social media can provide rough, real-time estimates of migrations of people following natural disasters, the team says.     

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Hurricane Maria sent Puerto Ricans fleeing from the island to the U.S.