On March 16, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands region of New Zealand.
As in the case of every earthquake, New Zealand’s recent earthquake was accompanied by a wave of misinformation.
Many videos and photos are misleadingly shared in relation to the earthquake in the New Zealand.
A Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake Hit New Zealand
On Thursday, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 occurred in New Zealand's Kermadec Islands.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) determined that the earthquake's depth was 10 km (6.21 miles).
After the U.S. Geological Survey issued a tsunami warning for the Kermadec islands, the New Zealand Disaster Management Agency canceled it, declaring that "there is no tsunami threat to New Zealand following the earthquake in the Southern Kermadec Islands."
The National Emergency Management Agency also tweeted that there is no tsunami threat following the earthquake.
Misleading Videos Shared in Relation to New Zealand’s Earthquake
A video widely shared shows a swimming pool swinging after the earthquake struck New Zealand.
A reverse image search lead Misbar's team to the original video, which was published in February 2023, when Turkey was hit by multiple earthquakes.
SahilOnline TV news published the video on YouTube on February 28, 2023.
Contrary to claims, the video’s caption shows that the video was shot during the recent earthquake in Turkey.
Another video was shared online showing four terrified people in an open place when the earthquake hit New Zealand.
However, the video shows the Taiwan earthquake that occurred on September 18, 2022.
Dongsen News CH51’s YouTube channel published the video on September 19, 2022.
According to the video’s caption, the footage shows the Hualien "Zhuoxi Township" Mountaineering Association, which had lecturers leading students on the mountain. By surprise, the earthquake occurred and terrified the students and the lecturers.
Furthermore, Misbar has debunked video clips that purportedly show New Zealand’s recent earthquake.
Misleading Photos of the New Zealand Earthquake Resurface
Social media users shared a photo purportedly showing a damaged highway due to the earthquake that hit New Zealand.
However, the photo dates from 2016 and features a highway in Aotearoa New Zealand that was damaged by a large earthquake at the time.
The photo, shot by photographer Marty Melville, was uploaded to Getty Images.
Another photo was shared, showing a collapsed building due to New Zealand’s earthquake.
Yet, the photo is old and dates back to January 26, 2020.
According to Getty Image, the photo shows rescue workers working at the scene of a collapsed building in Elazig, Turkey following an earthquake that occured at the time.
Furthermore, social media users posted a photo of damaged buildings due to the earthquake in New Zealand. However, the photo is outdated and was shot after the Haiti earthquake on August 14, 2021.
UNIC uploaded the photo in a published article about the incident at the time.
Why do Netizens Tend to Spread Fake News During Natural Disasters?
Misbar provided advice for readers on how to avoid manipulation in an article that detailed numerous examples of false information spread after natural disasters.
For a number of reasons, misinformation is frequently widespread during natural catastrophes.
First, people are typically in a state of panic during natural disasters, which increases their susceptibility to false information.
Moreover, some people might purposely spread false information to stir up controversy or manipulate judgment.
Not to mention, certain social media profiles and sites use tense situations to attract viewers and grow their followings.
Misbar’s Sources:
