Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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
Videos showing the havoc caused by Hurricane Milton after it struck Florida, USA.
Fact
Viral videos found to be old, from Libya and New Jersey.
Multiple videos, claiming to show the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton after it made landfall as a category three hurricane in Siesta Key, Florida, on Wednesday, have gone viral across social media. Nearly 3.4 million homes and businesses were without power, dozens of homes have been destroyed, and at least 10 deaths have been reported, according to reports, which stated that the hurricane has now weakened into a post-tropical cyclone and its centre has moved away from the state into the Atlantic Ocean.
Claim 1
Video of a tornado seen near a building.
The archived version of the post can be seen here.
Fact Check
Newschecker ran a reverse image search of keyframes, which led us to this Youtube video, uploaded by Forbes Middle East on September 11, 2023, headlined “Hurricane “Daniel” Hits Northern And Eastern Libya”.
“A powerful hurricane, named “Daniel,” struck several regions and cities in northern and eastern Libya, bringing with it heavy rains that resulted in extensive flooding across the country,” read the description.
An X post by TRT World Now, dated September 11, 2023, further confirmed that the viral video is not related to Hurricane Milton, but from Libya.
Claim 2
House walls collapse during the hurricane.
The archived version of the post can be seen here.
Fact Check
Newschecker ran a reverse image search of keyframes, which led us to the same video on Youtube, dated September 4, 2021, uploaded by 6abc Philadelphia and headlined, “Basement wall collapses in Cranford, NJ home”.
“CAUGHT ON CAM: Dramatic video shows a person walking through ankle-deep floodwater in their family’s basement in Cranford, New Jersey, when the entire wall caves in as water crashes into the space,” read the description of the video. News reports on the incident can be seen here and here, confirming that the viral video is not from Florida during Hurricane Milton.
Claim 3
Florida resident caught inside his car during the storm.
The archived version of the post can be seen here.
Fact Check
Newschecker ran a reverse image search of keyframes, which led us to this TikTok post by media outlet Pubity, sharing the same video. The video was uploaded on August 1, 2024, well before Hurricane Milton struck Florida. We could not independently ascertain the location of the viral video.
Also Read: Middle East Crisis: Neither Iran, Nor Hezbollah; Viral Video Of Missile Misfire Is Old & Unrelated
Conclusion
Old, unrelated videos of havoc caused by heavy rain and tornadoes in Libya and the US misrepresented as Hurricane Milton.
Result: False
Source
Youtube video, Forbes Middle East, September 11, 2023
TikTok post, August 1, 2024
Youtube video, 6aba Philadephia, September 4, 2021
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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.
