Footage of Floodwaters Sweeping Cars Is From Spain, Not Libya
The Claim
A video shows floodwarers sweeping cars in Libya.
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Social media users shared a video purporting to show floodwaters sweeping cars away in Libyan streets due to the recent impact of Storm Daniel in the country.
The video shows individuals stranded on car roofs, fearing the rising floodwaters.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the footage and found the claim to be misleading.
After conducting a thorough reverse image search on the video, Misbar’s team found the video to be outdated and unrelated to Libya’s recent floods.
The Video Shows Floods in Spain, Not Libya
In contrast to the circulating claim, the video in question features flooding in the Spanish city of Zaragoza, where streets have been submerged due to heavy rainfall.
9 News Australia's YouTube channel uploaded the original video on July 10, 2023, with the title, "Woman stranded on car roof in Spanish floodwaters.
Another YouTube channel released the footage along with other scenes from the incident on July 8, 2023. The video’s title reads, “Streets in Spain's City Flooded After Torrential Rain | Spain Rain.”
Flash Floods in Zaragoza, Spain
Firefighters in Zaragoza, the capital of the Aragón Region of Spain, conducted multiple high-water rescues in response to powerful flash floods that inundated the city. The region experienced a series of storms in a brief period during the afternoon and evening of July 6, 2023.
According to the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), the town of Alcañiz in Teruel Province received 46 mm of rainfall within a few hours, with an astonishing 27.6 mm falling in just 10 minutes.
Videos shared on social media platforms showed the floodwaters sweeping through the central parts of Zaragoza city.
Libya’s Recent Floods After Storm Daniel
The death toll from the devastating floods caused by Storm Daniel in Libya has tragically risen to 6,000, according to an official from the unity government. Saadeddin Abdul Wakil, the undersecretary of the unity government’s Health Ministry, reported this grim statistic on Wednesday, also noting that thousands of people remain missing.
Government hospitals in the affected areas are struggling to operate, and efforts are underway to restore functionality to 10 hospitals and 20 medical centers.
On Monday, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimated that 10,000 people were missing in the aftermath of the floods.
The torrential rains from the powerful cyclone primarily affected several areas in eastern Libya, including Benghazi, Al Bayda, Al-Marj, Soussa, and Derna. This disaster has had a devastating impact on the region.
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