Irrelevant Photo Shared as the Last Moments of Saving Rayan
The Claim
A photo depicts the final moments of the rescue of Moroccan child Rayan, who was trapped in a well.
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Emerging story
A photo purported to show the final moments of the rescue of Moroccan child Rayan, who was trapped in a well in Northern Morocco, has recently circulated on social media pages and accounts on Facebook and Twitter.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the spreading claim and found it to be false. The image was cropped from a video posted by Syrian TV on YouTube on March 17, 2021. The photo depicts the Syrian Civil Defense trying to save a child who fell down an artesian well while working alongside his father in Idlib province, Northern Syria.
On March 17, 2021, the Civil Defense announced on its official Facebook page that its division attempted to rescue Hassan Khader Al-Zaalan after he fell into a well in Kafar Ruhin Town village, Idlib province. Nonetheless, he died before the rescue could be completed.
The alleged claim coincides with efforts to save Rayan, a five-year-old Moroccan boy who fell down a deep well on Tuesday, February 1, in the northern Moroccan city of Chefchaouen.
Translated by Wesam Abo Marq
