Photos from 2011, 2016 passed off as visuals of recent Japan earthquake

By: Chandan Borgohain
January 2 2024

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Social media users are sharing old images as visuals of recent earthquake in Japan. (Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

A massive earthquake of 7.6 magnitude hit central Japan on the first day of 2024 killing at least 48 people. In the aftermath of one of the strongest earthquakes to have hit the island country since March 2011, thousands of army personnel, firefighters, and police officers have been dispatched to the worst-hit areas for rescue efforts.  

What is the claim?

Against this backdrop, several social media users are sharing a set of four images showing damaged houses and wreckages of buildings with the claim that they depict the aftermath of the recent earthquake in Japan. Sharing the images on X (archived here) on January 2, a user wrote, “My heartfelt condolences to the people of Japan amidst the 7.6 magnitude earthquake. May strength,kindness and support surround you during this challenging time. Our global community stands with you.” The post had gained over 57,000 views at the time of publishing. The photos have been shared by another X user (archived here) with the same caption.

We also found a Facebook post by an Assamese outlet ‘Life Today Assam’ that also linked the viral photos with the recent earthquake in Japan. The archived version of their post can be found here. 

Screenshots of X posts sharing the viral set of photos. (Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, while these photos are from Japan, they don’t show the aftermath of the recent earthquake in the country.

What did we find?

We performed a reverse image search on each of the photos and found that all of them were old. The viral photos are from earthquakes that struck Japan in 2011 and 2016. 

Collapsed houses with foothills in the background

A reverse image search on this image led us to a report published by CNN on April 16, 2016. Titled “Japan earthquake kills nine; more aftershocks expected,” the report features the same image along with other images of the earthquake as part of an embedded slideshow. According to the report, at least nine people were killed in the earthquake that struck southwestern Japan’s Kyushu island on April 14, 2016. The report credited Yusuke Ogata/Kyodo News/AP for the image. 

We also found the same image shared by photo agency AP Photos. The caption of the photo read: “Damaged houses sit after an earthquake in Mashiki, Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan Saturday, April 16, 2016. Powerful earthquakes a day apart shook southwestern Japan, as thousands of army troops and other rescuers on Saturday rushed to save scores of trapped residents before weather turns bad. (Kyodo News via AP) ” 

Photograph showing damage caused by the 2016 earthquake in Japan. (Source: AP Photo/Screenshot)

People walking past a damaged house

On running a reverse image search on this photo we found that it also depicts the aftermath of the 2016 earthquake that struck southern Japan. The same image was used in a report titled “Japan Earthquake: Daylight Shows Extent of Damage After 9 Killed” by NBC News. The image was credited to Yu Nakajima of AP Photo and its caption read, “Residents walk past a house damaged by the earthquake in Mashiki, Japan, on Friday.” 

The photograph was also shared on AP Photo with the caption: “Residents walk past a house damaged by a magnitude-6.5 earthquake in Mashiki, Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan, Friday, April 15, 2016. The powerful earthquake struck Thursday night, knocking down houses and buckling roads. (Yu Nakajima/Kyodo News via AP).”

Photograph showing residents walk past a house damaged by the earthquake in Japan in 2016. (Source: NBC News/Screenshot)

A damaged house amid debris

A reverse image search on this image led us to an article published on NPR on March 17, 2011. According to the caption of the image, credited to Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images, it shows the wreckage of a house amid debris in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture, in Japan. 

We then came across the image on stock photo website Getty Images. The photograph was captioned, “TOPSHOT - A picture shows the wreckage of a house amid debris in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture, on March 17, 2011 after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The official number of dead and missing after a devastating earthquake and tsunami that flattened Japan's northeast coast has hit 14,650, police said on March 17, a rise of nearly 1,000 in just a few hours.”

Photograph showing the damage caused by the 2011 earthquake in Japan. (Source: Getty Images/Screenshot)

Image of a ship surrounded by wreckage

A reverse image search on this photo also revealed that it was also captured in the aftermath of the 2011 Japan earthquake. According to a photo story published in National Geographic titled “Japan Tsunami: 20 Unforgettable Pictures,” the image, credited to EPA, was captured after the devastating earthquake struck Japan in March 2011.

Photograph showing the aftermath 2011 earthquake in Japan. (Source: National Geographic/Screenshot)

The earthquake in 2011 was recorded as the most powerful earthquake in Japan that had hit the country’s northeast coast with a magnitude of 8.9. More than 18,000 people reportedly lost their lives in the earthquake.

The verdict

Social media users are sharing old images of earthquakes in Japan as visuals of the recent quake that struck the country on January 1. Therefore, we have marked this claim as misleading.