Fact Check: Viral Video Claiming To Show Tsunami After Russia Earthquake Is Old Footage From South Africa
After an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Russia’s eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, tsunami alerts were issued for several coastal regions. However, the viral video being shared with this claim is not from Russia but from a 2017 sea storm that hit Brahima Fofana Beach in Durban, South Africa.
- By: Abhishek Parashar
- Published: Aug 1, 2025 at 02:19 PM
New Delhi (Vishvas News): After a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Russia’s eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, social media was flooded with a video featuring massive waves, claimed to be a tsunami triggered by the earthquake.
Vishvas News, in its investigation, found this claim to be false. The viral footage dates back to 2017, when a severe storm hit Durban, South Africa, and is unrelated to the recent earthquake in Russia. According to news reports, following the earthquake in Russia, the US issued a tsunami warning for Alaska and Hawaii, while Guam and Micronesia have been put on a tsunami watch.
What is viral?
Social media user ‘Sunrise India News‘ shared the viral video, with the caption, “One of the most devastating earthquakes ever in Russia–a tremor of 8.7 magnitude was felt on the Richter scale. A tsunami warning has been issued after the earthquake, due to which the situation in the coastal areas is expected to worsen. There is a possibility of huge loss of life and property; relief teams are on alert at the spot. This is the most powerful earthquake to hit the region since 1952. After the earthquake, a tsunami alert has been issued in many countries, including Russia, Japan, America (Hawaii, California, Washington).”
Many other users across various social media platforms have also shared this video with similar and identical claims.
Investigation
During our investigation, we found multiple reports confirming that an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck the coastal areas of Russia. According to a BBC report, the earthquake hit the Kamchatka Peninsula at 11.25 am local time on Wednesday.
Following the tremor, authorities in the western coastal areas of Japan, Russia, and the US advised residents to move to safer locations. In Japan, around 20 lakh people were evacuated due to the tsunami threat.
The viral video also features tsunami-like waves hitting the coast. Using Vishnas News’s message check tool, we found that this video has gone viral on several occasions in connection with different earthquake incidents.
Previously, the same video went viral as footage of an earthquake in Turkey, though it originates from Durban, South Africa.
This video can also be seen in a bulletin uploaded about eight years ago on the YouTube channel Expresso Show.
According to the details provided in the video, on March 12, 2017, Durban’s northern beach was closed due to unusually high waves caused by a sea storm at Brahima Fofana Beach in Durban, South Africa. The viral clip appears at the 1.32-minute mark of the footage.
The same video is also available on the Sun Newspapers YouTube channel, shared on March 12, 2017, in the same context, stating that Durban beach was closed due to high sea waves.
We also reached out to Turkey’s fact-checking organisation, Tayit, regarding the viral video. They confirmed that no tsunami was reported in Adana, Turkey, and the viral video is not from Turkey but from South Africa.
Our investigation confirms that the video is unrelated to the recent earthquake in Russia. It depicts the 2017 sea storm that hit the Brahima Fofana Beach in Durban, South Africa.
According to the news agency AP report, the tsunami warning has now been lowered for Hawaii and some regions of Japan.
According to another AP report, there have been no reports of widespread loss of life or property due to this powerful earthquake. However, officials have urged the residents to stay away from coastal areas, warning that the risk has not yet passed.
Additional details about this earthquake, including an interactive map, regional information, and felt reports, are available at earthquake.usgs.gov.
The Facebook page that shared the viral video has around 20000 followers.
Conclusion: After an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Russia’s eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, tsunami alerts were issued for several coastal regions. However, the viral video being shared with this claim is not from Russia but from a 2017 sea storm that hit Brahima Fofana Beach in Durban, South Africa.
- Claim Review : Footage A massive tsunami triggered by the earthquake in Russia.
- Claimed By : https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1517575269364703
- Fact Check : False
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