This Video Shows a Building That Collapsed in 2020, Not During Morocco's Recent Earthquake
The Claim
A video shows a building collapsing during the 2023 Morocco earthquake.
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Emerging story
Amid the aftermath of the recent earthquake in Morocco, a video, purportedly showing a building that collapsed entirely in the wake of the earthquake, circulated widely on social media.
An X user shared the video along with the caption, "The moment a building completely collapsed following the earthquake that struck Morocco a short while ago."
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the viral footage and found the claim to be misleading.
A thorough reverse image search revealed the video making the rounds to be outdated and unrelated to the recent earthquake that struck Morocco.
The Video Shows a Building that Collapsed in 2020, Not Recently
The video in question is indeed unrelated to the recent earthquake that struck Morocco on September 9. It shows a building collapse that occurred in Morocco in 2020.
A YouTube channel uploaded the original footage on August 6, 2020. According to the captions, it features the moment a house collapsed in the Sbata neighborhood of Casablanca.
Another YouTube channel also uploaded the identical footage on August 6, 2020.
The Hespress media outlet also released additional footage of the same incident, captured from a different angle, featuring the collapsed building and its aftermath.
A Collapsed Building in Sbata, Morocco
According to Hespress, a three-story building collapsed in the Sbata district, Morocco. This tragic incident resulted in the loss of one life and substantial damage to property.
The neighborhood was plunged into chaos as the multi-family dwelling suddenly crumbled, prompting residents to scramble for safety. The building had shown ominous signs of instability, with sizable cracks appearing before its eventual collapse onto the ground.
According to a spokesperson, the house had undergone prior inspections by multiple committees. Following these evaluations, a collective decision was made, and residents were promptly informed about the need for immediate evacuation. It's worth noting that some of these residents agreed to vacate the building within the current week. However, the collapse incident occurred before their planned move-out.
Morocco's Earthquake Claims 1000 Lives
Rescue efforts were underway as emergency teams searched through the rubble for survivors in remote mountain villages in Morocco on Saturday. This followed the country's deadliest earthquake in over six decades, claiming the lives of more than 1,000 people.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the quake's magnitude at 6.8, with its epicenter located approximately 72 km (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech.
The earthquake, which occurred in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains late on Friday night, caused damage to historic buildings in Marrakech, the nearest city to the epicenter. However, the majority of casualties were reported in the mountainous areas to the south. The Interior Ministry reported that a total of 1,037 individuals had lost their lives, with another 672 sustaining injuries due to the earthquake.
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