A Filipino Facebook (FB) user uploaded old clips of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and building demolitions in China and claimed that the devastation was caused by the 6.8 magnitude quake that recently struck Morocco. The video is false.
On Sept. 12, a netizen uploaded a one-minute and two-second compilation video bearing clips of buildings collapsing after explosions. Screams from the supposed onlookers can also be heard throughout the video. The post bore the caption:
“Terrifying earthquake in Morocco. God is Good All the Times.”
Several netizens fell for the wrong information, while others pointed out that the clips were not from Morocco.
The video compiled Israeli airstrikes targeting high-rise buildings in Gaza City in May 2021, and building demolitions in China also in 2021.
Clips from Insider News’ May 14, 2021 compilation video were used in the first half. The video’s caption read: “Dramatic Footage Shows Gaza Under Attack And Missiles Targeting Israel.”
Specifically, the first four videos showed Israeli forces destroying the Al-Shorouk Tower, which housed businesses and media offices in Gaza City, according to CNN on May 12, 2021.
Note: Click on the photos to view their original source
The next two clips are footages of Israel demolishing Palestinian building “Hanadi” in Gaza City on May 11, 2021.
The last five clips were from a compilation video of building demolitions in China, uploaded by YouTube channel BILLIONS INC on Sept. 14, 2021.
It showed fifteen unfinished buildings in China’s Kunming City simultaneously collapsing in a controlled explosion on Aug. 27, 2021.
The video circulated among Filipino netizens four days after the powerful quake hit Morocco, leaving nearly 3,000 people dead and more than 5,600 injured.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said that not one of the approximately 4,600 Filipinos in the North African country was killed or injured.
VERA Files Fact Check just last week also flagged a clip of a building collapse that was falsely attributed to the Morocco quake. (Read Video of collapsed building NOT from 2023 Morocco quake)
The false compilation video uploaded by the FB netizen has garnered 1,000 reactions, 213 comments, 681 shares and 67,000 views. It was first uploaded on TikTok by user vtb2014 garnering 587,300 views.
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(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
