Outdated Photos Shared as Aftermath of Earthquake That Recently Hit Indonesia

Misbar investigated the circulated claim and found it misleading. The photos depicting the earthquake are outdated, and they do not show the earthquake that only recently hit Indonesia.

The first photo dates back to January 15, 2021, and was taken during an earthquake that hit Indonesia’s Sulawesi island at the time, leaving 10 people dead and 200 others with varying injuries.

The second photo dates back to the aftermath of a 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Indonesia’s Lombok island in July 2018, which destroyed dozens of homes.

The third photo dates back to the earthquake that hit Indonesia’s Sulawesi island again last January. Photographer SAR Hidayatullah took the photo for Anadolu Agency.

The fourth photo was taken on September 6, 2018, in the Japanese city of Sapporo after a 6.6-magnitude earthquake hit it.

Finally, the fifth photo dates back to September 29, 2018, and it shows the aftermath of an earthquake and a tsunami that hit Sulawesi island’s Palu city in Indonesia. The earthquake and tsunami left about 400 people dead.

On the morning of December 14 of this year, a 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia’s east, affecting Timor-Leste and Australia as well. However, no official reports of casualties have been made so far.

Translated by Ahmed N. A. Almassri