Haiti's residents have turned to social networking websites to make appeals for news of loved ones or plead for aid for victims in the aftermath of Tuesday's earthquake.
Sites such as Facebook and Twitter have also been used to send first-hand reports and pictures as the powerful earthquake has all but destroyed traditional communication lines in the country.
The level of internet traffic on the disaster has been enormous. One Facebook user group called "Earthquake Haiti" grew by 60,000 members in less than 24 hours.
According to Twitter, four of the 10 most popular topics posted on the blogging site in the 24 hours after the quake, were related to Haiti, as photos from the Caribbean nation and calls for relief assistance spread rapidly on the site.
As the full extent of the disaster has begun to unfold, residents also posted pictures of those missing on Facebook, with hundreds of messages and pleas for information about friends and relatives.
Solidarity groups also sprang up on the site, with the Haitian diaspora mobilising to support their homeland with financial help and information.
Fraud warning
Twitter was also deluged with messages on ways to "Help Haiti", which was one of the top 10 most popular topics on the site.
Relief efforts included sending money by text message to the American Red Cross and to Yele.org, a charity set up by Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean.
However, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned potential donors to be on the lookout for fraud schemes.
"The FBI today reminds internet users who receive appeals to donate money in the aftermath of Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before responding to those requests," the FBI said in a statement.
"Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organisation and/or a good cause," it said.