Photo shows aftermath of New Year’s Day jolt in Japan, not August 2024 quake

The posts surfaced after a robust 7.1-magnitude jolt hit southern Japan on August 8, leaving no less than 15 folks injured (archived hyperlink).

A authorities spokesperson stated no disruptions to infrastructure, together with electrical energy, water and telecommunications have been recorded (archived hyperlink).  

However the Japan Meteorological Company stated the nation ought to brace for a possible “megaquake” sooner or later that might declare lots of of hundreds of lives, whereas emphasising that the warning didn’t counsel an infinite tremor is imminent.

The identical picture was additionally shared on Nabalu Information’ web site, its Instagram account and social media platform X. 

Different information websites in Indonesia and India additionally used the identical picture right here, right here and right here as they reported on the current catastrophe.

However the picture was taken within the aftermath of an earthquake in Japan in January. 

Previous Japan quake 

A reverse picture search on Google led to a photograph within the archives of The Related Press (AP) information company (archived hyperlink).

“Bystanders take a look at injury close to Noto city within the Noto peninsula going through the Sea of Japan, northwest of Tokyo, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, following Monday’s lethal earthquake,” its caption learn.

Under is a screenshot comparability of the picture used within the deceptive posts (left) and the AP picture of the January 2024 jolt (proper):

UK broadcaster Sky Information additionally printed a photograph of the identical highway in January 2024 (archived hyperlink).

AFP has beforehand fact-checked posts falsely claiming to indicate photographs from the current earthquake in Japan right here.