{"id":58822,"date":"2026-04-30T03:18:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T07:18:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/old-tsunami-video-falsely-linked-to-april-2026-earthquake-in-japan\/30\/04\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T03:18:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T07:18:05","slug":"old-tsunami-video-falsely-linked-to-april-2026-earthquake-in-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/old-tsunami-video-falsely-linked-to-april-2026-earthquake-in-japan\/30\/04\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Old tsunami video falsely linked to April 2026 earthquake in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Japanese authorities issued tsunami alerts after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the country&#8217;s north on April 20, 2026, but footage circulating online showing a neighbourhood engulfed by massive waves is not linked to the latest jolt. It dates back to March 2011, when Japan&#8217;s\u00a0<span>strongest<\/span> earthquake on record triggered a deadly tsunami and sparked the Fukushima nuclear disaster.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;<span>Scenes of tsunami devastation after 7.4 earthquake in Japan<\/span>,&#8221; says an Urdu-language caption of a <a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/5QBJ-TD96?type=image\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Facebook video;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Facebook <span>video<\/span><\/a> shared on <span>April 21, 2026<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It shows water engulfing a neighbourhood and sweeping away cars before the area eventually becomes submerged.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Comments in Japanese can also be heard in the background. &#8220;It&#8217;s dangerous here,&#8221; one said, while another said &#8220;it&#8217;s insane.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><span>Screenshot of the false post captured on April 21, 2026, with a red X added by AFP<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">AFP has previously <a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/factcheck.afp.com\/video-shows-japan-during-tsunami-2011-not-typhoon-hagibis-2019\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:debunked;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">debunked<\/a> other false\u00a0<a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/factcheck.afp.com\/video-shows-tsunami-japan-2011\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:claims;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">claims<\/a> using the <a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/factcheck.afp.com\/video-shows-tsunami-crashing-city-japan-2011\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:same visual;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">same visual<\/a>. It resurfaced after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake &#8212; initially estimated to be a magnitude 7.4 &#8212; struck northern Japan on April 20.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><span>The <a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/live-news\/20260420-tsunami-warning-as-major-quake-hits-northern-japan-shakes-tokyo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:jolt;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">jolt<\/a> was so intense that it shook large buildings in the capital Tokyo, hundreds of kilometres (miles) away<\/span> from the epicentre (<a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/BZ36-MTRC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:archived link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">archived link<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Japan <a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.msn.com\/en-my\/news\/other\/six-people-hurt-but-no-serious-damage-from-powerful-japan-quake\/ar-AA21mpl0?apiversion=v2&amp;domshim=1&amp;noservercache=1&amp;noservertelemetry=1&amp;batchservertelemetry=1&amp;renderwebcomponents=1&amp;wcseo=1&amp;bundles=feat-es2020-t\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:issued a warning;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">issued a warning<\/a> for tsunami waves of up to three metres (10 feet) but it was lifted hours after an 80-centimetre (31-inch) wave hit a port in Kuji in Iwate, one among a series of small waves that hit elsewhere in northern Japan (<a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/R7R2-JRYN\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:archived link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">archived link<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The false video has spread\u00a0<a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/C4QU-LX9K\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:elsewhere;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">elsewhere<\/a> on <a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/59KF-8L5F\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:social media;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">social media<\/a> &#8212; including <span>on the Facebook page of Mexican media organisation <\/span><a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20260429030001\/https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1475513110638711\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Exclusivas MX;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Exclusivas MX<\/a>, whose watermark can be seen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">But there are no official reports about a tsunami matching the scale seen in the video following the 2026 quake,\u00a0which did not appear to cause any\u00a0<a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/asia\/east-asia\/six-hurt-but-no-serious-damage-from-powerful-quake-that-struck-japan-on-april-20\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:major damage;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">major damage<\/a>\u00a0(<a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/GFB8-F735\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:archived link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">archived link<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A\u00a0<a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/factcheck.afp.com\/doc.afp.com.36RH9NT\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:reverse image search;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">reverse image search<\/a> on Google using <a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/bHNimjTpxd8\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:keyframes;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">keyframes<\/a> led to a <a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=aAIj2fws5O4\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:longer clip;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">longer clip<\/a> showing the same scene with a wider angle shared on YouTube on December 19, 2011 <span>(<a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/F9Y4-LLJ8\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:archived link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">archived link<\/a>)<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The video&#8217;s title reads in a mix of English and Japanese: &#8220;Ishinomaki City, Tsunami, TSUNAMI JAPAN,&#8221; along with a date, March 11, 2011.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A 9.0-magnitude quake <a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.channelnewsasia.com\/east-asia\/earthquake-advisory-japan-lifted-week-after-6083466\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:hit;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">hit<\/a> northeastern Japan on the day &#8212; the country&#8217;s strongest on record &#8212; leaving at least<span> 18,500 people<\/span> killed or missing and sparking a devastating meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant (<a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/3RD8-D23R\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:archived link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">archived link<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It also triggered a tsunami with <a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/timesofmalta.com\/article\/blast-at-japan-nuke-plant-10-000-missing-after-quake.354544\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:waves;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">waves<\/a> up to 10 metres (33 feet) &#8212; much higher than those reported after the April 2026 quake (<a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/67LM-N9SQ\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:archived link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">archived link<\/a>).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"&lt;span&gt;Screenshot comparison of the false post (left) and the original video, with the same elements highlighted by AFP&lt;\/span&gt;\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"344\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/FniRDSFK52brRKEL7Q7pzw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTM0NDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/afp_factcheck_us_713\/6d09bbfee1aad324839796763cbc3b8e\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><span>Screenshot comparison of the false post (left) and the original video, with the same elements highlighted by AFP<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">FNN 311, a YouTube channel that Japan&#8217;s Fuji News Network launched to commemorate victims of the earthquake, also <a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/K0rWPm9f3GQ\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:uploaded;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">uploaded<\/a> a video showing the scene on October 26, 2012 (<a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/perma.cc\/F2H9-U245\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:archived link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">archived link<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">AFP <span>has <a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/factcheck.afp.com\/doc.afp.com.A8GD8WE\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:debunked;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">debunked<\/a> other <a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/factcheck.afp.com\/doc.afp.com.A8PR6NQ\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:misinformation;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">misinformation<\/a> related to the April 2026 <a data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/factcheck.afp.com\/doc.afp.com.A8TT3KQ\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Japan earthquake;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Japan earthquake<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/old-tsunami-video-falsely-linked-062947666.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Japanese authorities issued tsunami alerts after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the country&rsquo;s north on April 20, 2026, but footage circulating online<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/old-tsunami-video-falsely-linked-to-april-2026-earthquake-in-japan\/30\/04\/2026\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":58823,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/F1_bcu1F9UmvRPNtkHpTzQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyMDA7aD02MDA7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/afp_factcheck_us_713\/93845fcf424608c932b73c807f362d01","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58822"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58822"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58822\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58823"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}