Misleading: Videos of Huge Explosion in US
The Claim
A video shows a huge explosion in the USA.
News posted on
Emerging story
On the 9th of June, social media users and news websites circulated a video of huge explosions claiming that these explosions take place in America. The same clip was also published back in 2018 with claims it was an explosion at a gas station in the USA.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s investigation found that the claim is misleading. The videos actually took place in Tianjin, China back in 2015. Two massive explosions in the port of Tianjin have killed more than a hundred people and left a hundred others injured. The blasts took place at a warehouse at the port that contained hazardous and flammable chemicals including carbide, sodium cyanide, and potassium nitrate.
The China Earthquake Networks Centre stated that the initial explosion had a power equivalent to three tons of TNT detonating, while the second was the equivalent of 21 tons.
Tianjin is a significant industrial port near Beijing and is a gateway for goods going in and out of the capital and China’s industrial north. It is also known as the main trading hub for metals and steel.
It’s also worth mentioning, the American local media published videos on the 7th of June, of a huge fire, broke out in a compound under construction in Phoenix, Arizona. But it’s not related to the circulating claims.
