No, these visuals do not capture the 2024 Japan earthquake, old videos recycled as recent

By: Ankita Kulkarni
January 3 2024

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Screenshot shows the viral posts circulating on social media. (Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

At least 62 people were killed in a massive earthquake of 7.6 magnitude that hit central Japan on January 1, 2024. Rescue operations are underway in the affected areas with thousands of army personnel, firefighters, and police officers searching for survivors. 

What is the claim?

Against this backdrop, social media users have been circulating numerous misleading and unrelated videos claiming they show scenes from the recent events.

The screenshot shows the viral posts circulating on social media.
(Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

What are the facts?

By analyzing the viral footage, Logically Facts has determined that they are old and unrelated to the recent earthquake.

Video A

One video (archived here) shows three people being swept away by a wave and the posts allege that it shows the tsunami in Japan after the recent earthquake. The video caption reads, “WTF WAS HE THINKING!?!#japan #earthquake #tsunami.”

Screenshot showing the viral post. (Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, we found that the video is from 2021 and was captured in Indonesia. Although the original video of the viral clip has been deleted from YouTube, an archived version of the footage is available on the Wayback Machine, an internet archiving tool. The viral clip is part of a video uploaded to a channel named “MEMBAYANG TV” on December 6, 2021, and shows the same people running from waves in the same location.

The viral footage can be seen from the 2:04 minute mark until the end. We also found a report published by Indonesian news portal Detik News on December 9, 2021, which identified the woman seen in the viral clip as Rina Rina Bono. The report stated that the video was captured during a Bono wave, also known as a tidal bore, near the Kampar river in Riau. This establishes that the video is unrelated to the earthquake in Japan.

Video B

A 1:12-minute clip shared on X (archived here) shows people running through the streets amid chaotic scenes and water rushing through the area in the background. One post sharing the video reads, “Breaking: People are running and screaming on the roads running for their lives as huge 7.6 magnitude #earthquakeJust hit #japan and #tsunami warnings have been issued.#earthquake #NewYear2024.”

Screenshot showing the viral post. (Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

In the top right corner of the clip, we can see the date “3/11/2011,” and the location as “Kamaishi Iwate.” This indicates that the video is old. We found the same clip uploaded to the YouTube channel FNN311 on June 13, 2013, and the viral video can be observed from the timestamp 0:19 to 1:26 minute mark. The video description details that it was captured in Kamaishi city in Japan. The evidence clarifies that it was captured in Japan during the 2011 tsunami.

Video C

A minute-long video (archived here) includes five other small clips and shows visuals of a giant ship in the sea. The post including the video shared on X is captioned, “The terrible and horrific scenes from Ship. #Japan #JapanAirlines #JapanTsunami #JapanEarthquake #japanearthquake2024 #Tsunami. [sic]” 

Screenshot showing the viral post. (Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

The first three visuals of the viral video are visible in two YouTube shots uploaded on December 22, 2023, by an account named DRIAN1211. Text overlaid onto the video reads "North Sea the most treacherous sea in the world." The next two visuals in the viral clip can be found in another YouTube video posted by the channel Asadology on December 29, 2023, from the timestamp 0:12 to 0:19 minute mark. The first three visuals of the viral clip can also be seen in the same video as it progresses. Although there is no concrete evidence about the location where it was captured, it predates the earthquake in Japan.

Video D

The 1:04 minute-long video posted on X (archived here) is a compilation of multiple visuals depicting destruction caused by natural disasters. From the beginning to the 0:12 second mark, the visual shows multiple cars submerged and being swept away by water, and blue-colored boxes moving along with them. The video caption states, "aw man so it’s already happening great start 2024 #Japon #JapanEarthquake #japanearthquake2024."

Screenshot showing the viral post. (Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, this video is also from the 2011 tsunami in Japan. We found the original footage uploaded on YouTube by the channel FNN311, and in the top right corner the date "3/11/2011" is visible alongside text placing the video in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture. From the timestamp 7:21 to 8:03 mark we can see the viral visuals. 

However, the rest of the viral video does contain recent visuals from the January 1 earthquake.

Video E

A post shared on X (archived here) includes a video and an image showing the aftermath of an earthquake. The image shows cars under a collapsed wall, while the video shows scenes of buildings and cars shaking. One post shared the visuals with the caption, “I stand with the people of Japan. I hope the situation will get better as soon as possible #Japan #earthquake #Tsunami.” While the video is recent, the image is from 2011.

 Screenshot showing the viral post. (Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

This image was published in a CNN report dated March 15, 2011. The image is captioned, “Following the devastating earthquake and tsunami the Japan MotoGP has been postponed until October.”  Canadian news site The Globe and Mail Online also published the same image on March 11, 2011, with the caption “Vehicles are crushed by a collapsed wall at a car park in Mito city, Japan.”

The verdict 

The images and videos of old and unrelated visuals showing destruction from various natural disasters are being shared to falsely claim that they show the 2024 Japan earthquake. Therefore, we have marked the claim as false.