Colombia Mining Fire: Fact Check
- Claims circulating on social media that indigenous residents of Raja ampat, Indonesia, torched excavators at a nickel mining site are false.
- The false claim, shared widely on Facebook and TikTok, alleged the burning happened around noon on june 8.
- Anis Dj, a spokesperson for the police in southwest Papua Province, confirmed on June 12 that "as of today, there is no burning incident in the mining...
False claims about excavator burnings at an indonesia nickel mine have spread online, but the video actually shows a mining operation in Colombia. Reports circulating on social media suggested indigenous people set excavators ablaze in Raja ampat, Indonesia, sparking concern regarding mining permits adn environmental impact. However, news Directory 3 can confirm that authorities deny any such incident occurred, and the footage originates from Colombia. The misleading facts was widely shared on platforms like Facebook and TikTok, falsely linking the incident to the revocation of mining permits and environmental damage allegations. Explore the origins of these false claims and how misinformation travels; discover what’s next.
False Claims Spread About Indonesia Mining permits and Excavator Burning
Claims circulating on social media that indigenous residents of Raja ampat, Indonesia, torched excavators at a
nickel mining site are false. The posts surfaced after the indonesian government revoked several mining permits
in the Raja Ampat islands, following public outcry over environmental damage. However, police deny any such
incident occurred, and the video footage is from Colombia.
The false claim, shared widely on Facebook and TikTok, alleged the burning happened around noon on june 8. The
posts asserted the action was a response to environmental damage caused by the extractive industry, which
threatens indigenous lands.
Screenshot of the false post, captured on June 11, 2025
Anis Dj, a spokesperson for the police in southwest Papua Province, confirmed on June 12 that “as of today,
there is no burning incident in the mining site.”
Reverse image searches revealed the video was initially posted on Instagram on June 5, with a caption
indicating it was filmed in Colombia. Further investigation traced the clip to a May 25 post by a Colombian
media outlet, which reported it showed an operation to shut down an illegal mining site in Antioquia,
Zaragoza.
