Fact-Checkers Debunk Viral Videos Misrepresenting Japan’s April 2026 Earthquake as Past Disasters

Following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck off the northeastern coast of Japan on April 20, 2026, a wave of videos falsely purporting to show the event’s impact began circulating on social media platforms. Fact-checkers confirmed the clips actually depicted past disasters, including the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, a 2025 tsunami event, and the aftermath of a quake in western Japan on New Year’s Day 2024.

The misleading content emerged shortly after the seismic event, which occurred offshore and triggered tsunami waves of up to 80 centimetres at Kuji port in Iwate prefecture. Despite the quake’s strength, authorities reported no major damage from the April 20 tremor itself.

AFP Fact Check investigated the viral videos, noting they were shared with captions in multiple languages, including English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai. One widely viewed clip falsely claimed to show “the first waves already hitting the Port of Hachinohe,” while another bore a Korean-language caption stating, “Magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Japan, tsunami warning.” Both were traced to footage from previous disasters.

Indonesian diplomatic officials in Tokyo issued an advisory following the quake, confirming no Indonesian nationals were among those affected. The Jakarta Globe reported that the Embassy of Indonesia in Japan monitored the situation closely and found no casualties or injuries involving Indonesian citizens.

Concerns were also raised in Bali regarding potential risks to tourism infrastructure from seismic activity linked to subduction zones. The Bali Sun noted discussions among local officials and disaster preparedness agencies about megathrust risks, though no immediate threat to Bali was identified from the April 20 event.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) assessed the status of Japan’s nuclear facilities after the quake and confirmed that all plants remained safe and stable. According to Tempo.co English, the IAEA stated there was no release of radiation and that safety systems functioned as designed.

Japanese authorities continue to monitor seismic activity in the region, which remains one of the most active in the world. While the April 20 quake did not result in significant destruction, the spread of outdated footage underscores ongoing challenges in verifying information during natural disasters.