Fact Check: There Are No Houses Inside This Crater In Mexico, Viral Image Is AI-generated
Vishvas News investigated the viral claim that people had built houses inside the crater of a volcano in Mexico City and found it to be false.
- By: Ashish Maharishi
- Published: Aug 14, 2026 at 03:27 PM
New Delhi (Vishvas News). A photo attributed to Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, is rapidly going viral on social media. The image is being shared with the claim that the population of Mexico City has grown so much that, due to a lack of space, people have started building houses inside the crater of a dormant volcano. The viral photo shows houses built inside the crater. Some social media users are believing this photo to be real and sharing it widely.
Vishvas News investigated the viral image, which was found to be fake. The investigation revealed that AI technology had been used to create it. Our investigation further revealed that there are no houses inside the crater in Mexico, but farming is carried out there, while the outer areas are inhabited.
What is viral?
Facebook page ‘The Great India’ posted a picture on August 12, 2026, claiming, “Mexico City, with a huge population of about 25 million, is facing a severe land shortage. The city’s unprecedented expansion has led people to find a unique way to live—settlements, homes, and even playgrounds have been built inside the crater of a dormant volcano. Situated in a high plateau region, this city is surrounded by volcanic hills on all sides. With decreasing land availability and rapidly growing populations, humans have made volcanic slopes and craters habitable. This combination of the horrors of nature and human needs, presents a truly astonishing spectacle.”
The actual content of the viral post has been reproduced here. An archived version can be viewed here. Many X users are also sharing it, believing it to be true.
Investigation
Vishvas News first scanned the viral image using the Google Lens tool. We found similar images on several websites and social media accounts. These photographs were identified as showing the crater of Mexico’s Xico volcano.
During our search, we found a photo on ‘Shutterstock‘, which was also identified as showing the crater of the Xico volcano in Chalco, Mexico.
Expanding our investigation, we used Google Maps. A search here revealed that the Xico crater is located on the southern edge of the capital Mexico City. We did see agricultural land inside the crater, while some houses were also visible on the outskirts. Click here for more details.
According to the Mexican website ‘mexicodesconocido‘, the crater is located in the Valle de Chalco municipality of Mexico. It’s a 100-meter deep crater and has a diameter of 1,400 meters.
To further our investigation, we began checking the viral photo using AI detection tools. We first used the ‘Hive Moderation‘ tool. The Scan indicated a more than 98% probability that the viral photo was AI-generated.
We used another tool, ‘SiteEngine‘ to verify the credibility of the image. The analysis revealed that the viral image was 99% AI-generated.
After this, we used the third AI tool ‘isitai‘ and it showed 99% probability that the viral photo was created by using AI tool.
Vishvas News boosted the investigation by contacting Verificado, a fact-checking website in Mexico. We contacted Liliana Elosegui, co-founder and editorial director of Verificado, who explained, “The viral image attributed to the Mexican volcano is digitally manipulated. The inside of the dormant crater is used solely for agriculture, not for housing. While there is a dense urban population around the crater’s exterior and slopes, there are no homes built inside.”
What is the context?
The Xico Crater, located near Mexico City, is a part of an ancient, dormant volcano. Its fertile soil makes it suitable for farming. Meanwhile, according to Encyclopedia Britannica, Mexico City is among the world’s ten most populous cities, with a total population of more than 25 million.
Our investigation concluded with a verification of the Facebook page that shared the fake post. It was found that this account has more than 76,000 followers. The account was created in 2022.
Conclusion: Vishvas News investigated the viral claim that people had built houses inside the crater of a volcano in Mexico City and found it to be false. However, farming is carried out inside the crater, while its outer areas are inhabited. The viral image was created using AI.
- Claim Review : Due to the increasing population and a lack of space, houses were built inside the crater of a doormat volcano in Mexico.
- Claimed By : FB User The Great India
- Fact Check : False
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