Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Cyclone-hit New Zealand experienced the wrath of nature once again on Wednesday, as a 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the country near Wellington. Soon after, several social media users shared a video showing products falling off trembling shelves in a store, while two women can be seen rushing out in panic. Those sharing the clip claimed it shows the intensity of the recent earthquake in New Zealand. Newschecker found the claim to be untrue.
Several Twitter users shared the 13-second-long-video with the text “New Zealand hit by Magnitude 6.1 earthquake.. Today 15-03-2023” displayed on the screen.
Archived versions of such tweets can be seen here, here, here and here.
Also Read: 2020 Video From Izmir Goes Viral As 2023 Turkey Earthquake Footage
Fact Check/Verification
On carefully analysing the viral clip, we noticed that the arrangement of goods on the shelf appears to be from a supermarket or a grocery store. Additionally, the video appears to have been shot on CCTV.
Taking a clue, we conducted a keyword search for “Supermarket,” “earthquake” & “CCTV camera” on Youtube which led us to a video by Underworld, a verified channel, dated February 4, 2023.
Around 10:30 seconds into the video, we spotted the widely circulated clip claiming to show the New Zealand earthquake. According to the narrator, the visuals actually show the effect of a high magnitude trembler that jolted the Caribbean country of Haiti in 2014. The time-stamp seen on the top right side of the screen read 2021-08-14 (August 14, 2021.)
Notably, Haiti was hit by a massive 7.2 magnitude earthquake on August 14, 2021 resulting in enormous loss of lives and damage to property.
Following this, we looked up “Haiti Earthquake 2021” in Haitian Creole on Youtube which yielded a video by Disaster Compilations, dated August 27, 2021. It featured snippets from the viral clip to show the intensity of the earthquake in Haiti on August 14, 2021.
The video was shared by another YouTube channel Earthquake Compilation on August 23, 2021.
We also came across a Facebook post by @EdenThinkTank, dated August 22, 2021. It carried a longer version of the viral clip with the caption, “Earthquake in Haiti.”
Newschecker could not independently ascertain the exact location where the viral clip was shot. However, it can be traced back to at least August 2021, and is not linked to the recent earthquake in New Zealand.
Conclusion
Viral posts claiming to show visuals from the recent earthquake in New Zealand are false. The video dates back to at least August 2021, and has been shared in a false context
Result: False
Sources
YouTube Video By Underworld, Dated February 4, 2023
YouTube Video By Disaster Compilations, Dated August 27, 2021
Facebook Post By @EdenThinkTank, Dated August 22, 2021
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
