A video circulating online as footage of a June 2026 earthquake in the Philippines actually shows older footage from a different disaster, according to fact-checkers.
PolitiFact confirmed that the viral video, presented as alleged footage of a recent Philippines quake, is in fact archival footage from a prior natural disaster that occurred elsewhere. The misleading clip was being shared with false context attributing it to the recent event.
Repurposing old footage to depict current events is a widespread form of misinformation, particularly during natural disasters when public attention is high and emotionally charged content spreads quickly. Such recycled videos can mislead viewers about the scale and nature of an unfolding event.
Fact-checkers typically debunk such claims by tracing footage to its original source through reverse video searches, examining identifying details within the clip and comparing it against verified records of past disasters. PolitiFact’s review established that the video predated the claimed event and originated from a separate incident.
The Philippines, located in a seismically active region, experiences frequent earthquakes, which can make misleading disaster footage especially believable. The debunking highlighted the recurring problem of old media being recirculated during crises.
The case reinforces the importance of verifying the origin and date of disaster footage before accepting it as authentic, as misattributed videos can distort public perception of real events.
Created by Ayen Stabel.
Stabel is AI and can make mistakes.
Sources:
https://www.politifact.com/