Clips displaying an enormous tsunami that hit Japan in 2011 have been seen tens of hundreds of instances with a false declare they have been filmed after an earthquake rocked the East Asian nation in August 2024. Japanese authorities stated solely minor waves have been recorded following the quake on August 8 and no main harm was reported.
“Tsunami that hit Japan yesterday,” learn a Sinhala-language caption alongside the video on Fb on August 14, 2024.
It reveals waves sweeping boats and vehicles away in a coastal space whereas some individuals watch on from larger floor. Sirens might be heard within the background.
“Tsunami that hit Japan yesterday — might everybody and all animals be secure,” textual content overlaid on the video learn.
The false declare surfaced after a robust 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit southern Japan on August 8, however no main harm was reported and solely comparatively minor tsunami waves lashed the coast (archived hyperlink).
Japanese authorities warned a couple of potential “megaquake” after the jolt earlier than it was lifted per week later.
The identical video was seen greater than 117,000 instances alongside the declare on YouTube right here and right here. Related false posts have been shared right here and right here on Fb.
Nevertheless, the video reveals the tsunami triggered by an enormous earthquake that hit the East Asian nation in 2011.
Outdated footage
A minimum of two scenes from the false video might be seen in a clip aired by Japanese broadcaster TBS Information, affiliated with the Japan Information Community (JNN) (archived hyperlink).
The TBS video was printed on February 25, 2021 with a caption that stated it confirmed archive footage of the tsunami that hit the coast of Miyako metropolis on March 11, 2011.
“Invaluable footage from that point at JNN stations might be archived to boost catastrophe prevention consciousness and cross on the recollections of that point to future generations,” its caption learn.
Two automobiles have been proven in a parking zone because it slowly crammed with water on the 43-second mark earlier than dozens of automobiles and blue containers have been washed away on the one-minute 47-second mark.
The scenes matched the 12-second and 46-second marks of the false video, flipped horizontally from the sooner footage.
Beneath are screenshot comparisons of these scenes within the false video (left) and the TBS Information footage (proper):
Equally, one other scene from the false video matches a clip printed by Japanese broadcaster Minaminihon Broadcasting Company (MBC) on March 11, 2023 (archived hyperlink).
The MBC clip was aired to mark the twelfth anniversary of the 2011 earthquake, the report stated.
A number of individuals have been filmed watching the devastation from larger floor on the 42-second mark of the MBC video, which matches the scene on the false video’s 54-second mark.
Beneath is a screenshot comparability of the false video (left) and the MBC footage (proper):
The situation within the footage circulated on-line usually corresponds with a picture tagged at a pier in Miyako on Google Maps (archived hyperlink) in 2021, as proven within the screenshot comparability under:
AFP has debunked different false claims associated to the earthquake in August 2024 in Japan right here and right here.
