2020 Beirut Port Explosion Video Resurfaced After the 2023 Turkey-Syria Earthquake
The Claim
A video shows a nuclear plant explosion due to the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake.
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Emerging story
Following the recent earthquake that hit Turkey, Syria, and other nearby countries, social media users circulated a video purporting to show a nuclear plant explosion due to the earthquake in Turkey.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the viral video and found the claim to be misleading.
After conducting a thorough reverse image search, Misbar’s team found the circulating video to be outdated and unrelated to the recent earthquake in Turkey.
Footage of the Beirut Explosion in 2020 Resurfaced Online
Contrary to the viral claim, the footage features the Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020.
On August 5, 2020, NBC News’ YouTube channel published the video along with a series of video clips featuring the Beirut explosion at the time.
Likewise, Sky News’ YouTube channel uploaded the video on August 6, 2020.
Beirut Port Explosion in 2020
On August 4, 2020, a devastating explosion in the Port of Beirut tore through the capital of Lebanon, killing 218 people, wounding 7,000 more, and displacing 300,000.
2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been improperly kept in a port warehouse for six years were destroyed in a fire at the Beirut port.
The explosion, which is one of the worst non-nuclear explosions ever recorded, damaged 77,000 apartments and is thought to have cost between $3.8 and $4.6 billion in material damage.
2023 Turkey-Syria Earthquake
On both sides of the border, Turkey and Syria were both devastated by a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8.
The quake is regarded as one of the strongest to hit the region in the past century.
The earthquakes, which were centered in southeast Turkey, have caused 3,419 deaths, according to Turkish authorities, bringing the overall death toll—including those in northern Syria—to more than 5,000.
Many countries have offered support for the search and rescue operations, which are being hindered by the cold and snow.
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