Photo of 2009 Italy Earthquake Circulated As China’s Latest Earthquake
The Claim
A 6.9-magnitude earthquake recently struck northwestern China.
News posted on
Emerging story
News websites and Facebook accounts have recently shared a photo they claimed showed a 6.9-magnitude earthquake that recently hit China’s northwest.
Description: The screenshot shows the purported claim being shared on Facebook and a news website.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s team investigated the circulated claim and found that it was misleading. The photo is outdated; it was taken by photographer Angelo Giordano in April 2009. The photo shows the aftermath of an earthquake that hit Italy’s Province of L’Aquila at the time, leaving 308 people dead and 1,600 others injured, in addition to displacing 65,000 people as a result of the damage left behind.
During the last few days, different areas in China have witnessed a series of earthquakes with varying magnitudes, the latest of which at 6.9. The earthquake hit China’s northwestern Qinghai Province on Saturday, Jan. 08, leaving behind minimal damage to buildings, while no casualties were reported.
Translated by Ahmed N. A. Almassri
