After a magnitude-7.9 earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, several viral videos on X, TikTok and YouTube claim to show the aftermath of the disaster. These included scenes of destroyed infrastructure and natural disasters purportedly impacting neighboring areas like Bangkok. The following fact checks provide evidence-based clarification on two prominent cases.
AI-generated urban destruction misrepresented as Myanmar earthquake
Claim:
A video circulating on social media platforms claims to show large-scale destruction in a Myanmar city after the March 2025 earthquake. The video includes overlaid text stating “Myanmar Earthquake” and ”17M people Affected” .
Fact check:
1. Source analysis
The TikTok watermark suggests the video was uploaded by @the.360.report, a now-deleted account. A reverse image search indicates the video is not associated with any legitimate footage of the Myanmar earthquake. No official news outlets or government agencies published similar visuals.
2.Visual red flags
- Flames flicker without dynamic variation, and smoke plumes rise uniformly without diffusion or atmospheric distortion.
- While foreground structures are heavily damaged, buildings in the far background appear pristine, with no cracks, debris, or atmospheric haze.
- Letters on wall signs are warped, scrambled and nonsensical.
Verdict:
This video is AI-generated with misleading captions.
AI-generated water surge falsely linked to earthquake in Bangkok
Claim:
A viral video on Facebook and YouTube shows a massive water cloud surging toward coastal buildings, labeled “Shocking Bangkok Earthquake” and ”Footage Caught on Camera”. The footage is overlaid with breaking-news-style graphics and a logo reading “ASIAN NEWS,” implying that the scene was recorded in Bangkok following the Myanmar earthquake.
Fact check:
1. Source analysis
Reverse image search identifies the original upload date as January 8, 2025, by Instagram user @stat.us.ai, a visual effects creator known for generating AI and CGI-based disaster simulations.
2. Visual red flags
- The motion of the water cloud lacks physical accuracy, with uniform movement and unrealistic splash effects.
- Buildings and water surfaces show no variation in lighting, indicating a rendered environment rather than real footage.
- The surge appears to slide across the scene without interacting naturally with terrain or objects.
3. Caption verification
The so-called “ASIAN NEWS” logo and headline style do not match any recognized news outlet. No water surge was reported in Bangkok on or after March 28, 2025, according to Thai Meteorological Department.
Verdict:
This video is AI-generated. It was repurposed with fabricated captions and a fake news-style overlay. The use of broadcast-style graphics and a fictitious media logo is a deliberate attempt to mimic professional journalism and deceive viewers.
