Beirut, Lebanon – A video circulating on social media platforms including TikTok and YouTube, supposedly depicting a factory fire in Hwaseong, South Korea, has been identified as footage from a devastating explosion that occurred in the port of Beirut in August 2020. The clip, which has been shared widely both in South Korea and internationally, misleads viewers about the time and location of the event.
The explosion in Beirut, captured in the viral video, resulted in the deaths of more than 220 people and injured at least 6,500, wreaking havoc across much of the Lebanese capital. Authorities later determined that the cause of the blast was a fire that ignited a large stockpile of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely at the port.
The misleading video has resurfaced in various online communities, sparking confusion and misinformation about recent events in South Korea. Digital forensics involving reverse image searches linked the footage to its original source from a news report by Al Arabiya published just days after the Beirut tragedy.
Screenshots and video comparison analysis confirm that the scenes in the widely shared post match those from the original Al Arabiya footage. Features such as signage for the logistics company Aramex and conversations in Arabic clearly place the scene in Beirut, not South Korea.
The original video was filmed by a couple from their nearby apartment, overlooking the port. Both individuals suffered severe injuries from the blast, which also caused extensive damage to their home, illustrating the personal human impact beyond the immediate explosion.
Further investigation into the Beirut explosion footage has shown various angles of the event as captured by different sources, helping to provide a comprehensive view of the incident’s scale and the devastation caused.
Location verification techniques, such as geolocating features seen in the video to coordinates on Google Maps’ Street View, have bolstered claims about the clip’s origin. This method has highlighted specific landmarks and building features that match those seen in footage of the Beirut explosion.
Past incidents of misinformation using this footage have been addressed in other fact-checking efforts, underscoring the ongoing challenges posed by the spread of false information through social media. It also highlights the importance of vigilance by internet users and the reliance on trusted sources for news related to international events.
While the Beirut explosion remains a focal point of significant media coverage and analysis, the misuse of such dramatic footage underscores the complexities and potential consequences of the digital information age. Misinformation can skew public perception and contribute to misinformation on a global scale, emphasizing the need for critical scrutiny of viral content.