This Video Does Not Show Floods Coming From the Atatürk Dam
The Claim
A video shows floods coming from the Atatürk dam in Turkey after rescuers opened the floodgates following the recent Turkey-Syria earthquake.
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Following the recent earthquake hitting Turkey, Facebook and Twitter users have circulated a 17-second video that purportedly shows floods due to the opening of the Atatürk dam floodgates for fear of aftershocks.
“Rescuers opened the floodgates of the Ataturk dam in Turkey,” a Twitter user wrote.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the claim and found it to be misleading. The video is old and unrelated to the recent earthquake hitting Turkey and Syria.
Video of Zakho Floods Resurfaced After the Turkey-Syria Earthquake
The video predates the Syria-Turkey earthquake. According to Misbar’s findings, the video was already posted on October 22, 2022, following floods in Zakho city, located in Dohuk governorate in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
The video was shared by several MENA-based media outlets and pages, as can be seen below.
Another video featuring floods hitting the same area was posted to YouTube in March 2020.
The Recent Earthquake In Syria and Turkey
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria last week, leaving more than 36,000 people dead and tens of thousands of survivors injured or homeless.
The disaster was reportedly considered one of the strongest earthquakes to have struck the region during the last century.
Misbar has also previously debunked an image that was alleged to show cracks in the Atatürk Dam following the earthquake. The picture was actually taken in Syria. It features a recent crack in Midanki Dam in Afrin region due to the earthquake.
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