Update (08 February 2023)
Another video of a blast is being shared as visuals of a huge blast at Turkey’s Nuclear plant. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Reverse image search of the viral visuals revealed that the video shows two massive explosions that took place in the Chinese city of Tianjin on 12 August 2015. As per the media reports, dozens of people died, and hundreds were injured when a warehouse owned by a company specialising in handling hazardous goods caught fire and exploded. Moreover, officials clarified that Turkey’s Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, which is currently under construction was not damaged by the recent earthquake, reported Reuters.
Published (07 February 2023)
In light of the recent earthquake in Turkey, which killed more than 4300 people, a social media post accompanying a video, claiming that a nuclear plant exploded in Turkey due to the recent earthquake is being widely circulated. The visuals show an explosion of a building. Through this article, let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Visuals of a nuclear plant explosion in Turkey, following the recent earthquake on 06 February 2023.
Fact: These visuals are related to an explosion that occurred at a port in Beirut, in 2020. The explosion occurred due to detonation of Ammonium nitrate stored at the port. These visuals have nothing to do with the recent earthquake in Turkey. Further, there are no reports of explosion or damage to any nuclear plant in Turkey, due to earthquake. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
A deadly earthquake hit Turkey and Syria in the early hours on 06 February 2023. According to various media reports, more than 4300 are dead. Visuals reported by the media agencies show multiple buildings collapsing during the earthquake. However, as of now, there are no reports of any nuclear plant explosion in Turkey due to the earthquake.
The viral visuals are actually related to an explosion that occurred in Lebanon’s capital city Beirut, back in 2020. Reverse image search of the screenshots of the viral video yielded multiple news reports that reported the same visuals, back in 2020. As per these reports, the visuals show an explosion caused at the Beirut port (here, here & here).
According to the news reports related to the incident, ‘a fire at the Beirut port caused the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which had been improperly stored in a port warehouse for six years.’ Multiple news agencies have reported the incident, which can be viewed here and here.
In wake of the recent earthquake on 06 February 2023, officials have confirmed that no damage has been caused to Turkey’s Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, which is currently under construction. Further, there are no reports of any nuclear plant explosion in Turkey, due to the earthquake.
To sum it up, old visuals of an explosion in Beirut are passed off as a nuclear plant explosion in Turkey.
