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VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Clips of old typhoon events PASSED OFF as Mawar onslaught

A viral video is erroneously claiming to show footage of strong winds and severe flooding supposedly caused by Super Typhoon Mawar in Guam.

By VERA Files

May 31, 2023

2-minute read
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A viral video on Facebook (FB) is erroneously claiming to show footage of strong winds and severe flooding supposedly caused by Super Typhoon Mawar in Guam last week.

Four clips shown in the video were taken in different countries and one U.S. state — namely, Somalia, India and Brazil and Florida — from 2020 to this year.

The two-minute video was published by an FB user on May 27 with the untrue headline:

Ang Hagupit ni (The wrath of) Super Typhoon Mawar. Pray for Guam.”

It spliced together several clips of howling winds, and people, animals, debris, and vehicles being swept away by flash floods.

VERA Files Fact Check gives context to each of the four videos below.

The erroneous video appeared after Mawar hammered Guam then set course toward the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan.

The FB netizen’s false post has since garnered over 23,000 reactions, 2,000 comments, 15,000 shares and 1.7 million views.

 

Have you seen any dubious claims, photos, memes, or online posts that you want us to verify? Fill out this reader request form or send it to VERA, the truth bot on Viber.

(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)

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