Authors
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Tsunami in Southern Philippines after the 7.6 magnitude earthquake.
Fact
No, a 10-year-old video from Leyte Philippines showing the storm surge of Typhoon Haiyan, has been shared as recent. The video is not linked to the recent earthquake in the Philippines.
Days after the southern Philippines was struck by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake, the latest in a series of many, social media users are sharing a video claiming to show a Tsunami lashing at the Philippines coast. The 1.43-minute video shows huge waves flooding the coast and knocking down walls of a residential property, leaving behind a trail of debris.
The video can be seen here. Archived Post
Many other X users also posted the video with the same claim. The posts can be seen here.
7.6 Magnitude Earthquake rattled Philippines
On Saturday, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 rattled the southern Philippine coast. Shortly after the seismic activity, a tsunami warning was issued for the island nation. The earthquake hit at 10:37 pm off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, with a moderate depth of 32 kilometers, equivalent to 20 miles. Report on the same can be read here & here.
Fact Check/Verification
We used the InVid Tool to extract key frames of the viral video and conducted a Google reverse image search on a few of them, which took us to several YouTube Channels carrying the same video.
One such page named OhLunaCrisps carried a report featuring an image similar to the keyframe, on May 03, 2014. The caption revealed that it was from the Philippines, but the incident was 9 years old.
We also found a 20-second video on YouTube titled “Actual Video of Storm Surge of Typhoon Haiyan Yolanda in Leyte Philippines,” published on November 29, 2013, that is the same as the viral video.
We conducted a keyword search on YouTube with the keywords “Typhoon Haiyan Yolanda in Leyte Philippines” and “Typhoon Haiyan”. We found a 1.43-minute video published on August 29, 2018, by Historical Speeches TV titled – “Actual Video of Storm Surge of Typhoon Haiyan Yolanda in Leyte Philippines.” The 1.43-minute video is same as the viral video claiming to be the latest Philippine tsunami.
Typhoon Haiyan Yolanda in Leyte Philippines
We conducted a Google keyword search to find out more details about Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. The typhoon occurred between 3 Nov 2013 to 11 Nov 2023 and is considered one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded, if not the most powerful, to hit land. As per reports by CNN, Super Typhoon Haiyan, among the most powerful storms on record, struck the Philippines with devastating force, affecting 25 million people. The storm caused casualties, displaced over 100,000 individuals to evacuation centers, and led to numerous flight cancellations. With sustained winds reaching 315 kph (195 mph) and gusts up to 380 kph (235 mph), Haiyan is potentially the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded to make landfall.
Other media reports on Typhoon Haiyan can be seen here, here and here.
Conclusion
The viral video claiming to show a Tsunami in the Philippines after the recent earthquake is actually 10 years old, and shows a storm surge of typhoon Haiyan Yolanda.
Result: False
Our Source:
1. Video uploaded by Historical Speeches TV, dated August 29, 2018
2. Video uploaded by OhLunaCrisps, dated May 03, 2014
3. Report published by CNN, dated November 8, 2013
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Authors
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
