Old & Unrelated visuals are passed off as those from the recent New Zealand earthquake - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
March 21, 2023
A set of social media posts (here, here & here) claiming to show visuals of recent earthquake which struck New Zealand are being widely circulated. Through this article, let’s fact-check the veracity of these visuals.
Claim: Visuals related the recent New Zealand earthquake.
Fact: None of these visuals are related to the recent earthquake that struck New Zealand. While some of the visuals are related to the recent Turkey earthquake, most of the visuals are related to old incidents of earthquakes that occurred else where. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
On 16 March 2023, an earthquake of magnitude 7.1 has stuck the Kermadec Islands of New Zealand. Following the quake, the US Tsunami warning system has issued a Tsunami warning of the coast of New Zealand. Later, the National Emergency Management Agency, ruled out the tsunami threat to New Zealand.
In light of this earthquake, multiple visuals are being shared on social media attributing them to the recent earthquake. However, these visuals are not related to the New Zealand earthquake.
Visual 1:
This visual showing an aerial view of dilapidated buildings is actually related to the recent Turkey earthquake. Reverse image search of this photo led us to the Guardian report, which carried the same visuals.
As per this report, the visuals show the destruction caused in Hatay province in Turkey, following the recent earthquake. The Guardian reported these visuals in February 2023 and according to the report, Hatay is one of the hardest hit parts of Turkey.
Visual 2:
This visual of a man holding on to the alcohol bottles from falling is not from New Zealand. Reverse image search of this photo led us to a June 2022 article, which reported the same visual.
This report is about the earthquake tremors which struck Meghalaya, reported this video as it went viral on social media, back then.
Another news article also reported the same video in their report about earthquake tremors in Meghalaya. Although the details of the exact location of the video is not known, the availability of the video ascertains the fact that it has nothing to do with the recent earthquake in New Zealand.
Visual 3:
These visuals of water splashing out of a swimming pool date back April 2015, when Nepal was struck with earthquake of 7.9 magnitude. Reverse image search of the viral screenshots yielded multiple news reports which reported the same visuals.
As per these news reports (here & here), the visuals show a swimming pool moving due to earthquake tremors in a hotel in Kathmandu.
Visual 4:
These visuals of a family lying on ground following the tremors is actually from Taiwan and the incident dates back to September 2022.
Reverse image search yielded us multiple new reprots which reproted the visuals (here & here). As per the reports, the visuals were recorded by the Hualien Zhuoxi Township Mountaineering Association, as they were conducting experience courses on Zhuoxi Mountain, when the tremors hit the area.
To sum it up, old & unrelated visuals are passed off as those from the recent New Zealand earthquake.