Photo of tilted building is from 2018 Taiwan earthquake, not 2024 temblor | Fact check
The claim: Photos show aftermath of Taiwan earthquake on April 3, 2024
An April 3 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) shows a photo of a damaged multistory building leaning at an angle beside a photo of workers surveying a damaged roadway and buildings.
"BREAKING: Scary Visuals Coming From Taiwan Where A 7.5 Scale Earthquake Hit Today," the image's caption reads. "A Tsunami is Also Warned Off The Coasts Of Japan."
The post was liked more than 7,000 times in a day.
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Our rating: Partly false
The photo of the workers surveying road damage was taken after the April 3 earthquake in Taiwan, but the photo of the tilted building was not. It shows the aftermath of an earthquake that hit Taiwan in 2018.
Photo of building left tilted predates 2024 Taiwan quake
An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 as measured by the U.S. Geological Survey struck Taiwan on April 3, leaving at least nine people dead and more than 1,000 wounded.
The photo of workers surveying a damaged roadway and buildings shows the aftermath of the quake, as it matches images from the scene uploaded to Getty Images and circulated by news organizations such as Bloomberg and The Washington Post.
But the photo of the building left tilted does not. It shows the aftermath of a 6.4-magnitude earthquake that hit Taiwan on Feb. 6, 2018, as it matches images of the same damaged commercial-residential complex included in news reports from the time and uploaded to stock-image websites.
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Japan canceled a tsunami advisory issued in the wake of the April 3 temblor, according to the Japan Times. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties in Japan, the article said.
The Instagram user who shared the photos did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Our fact-check sources:
Getty Images, April 3, Worst Taiwan Quake in 25 Years Levels Buildings
Bloomberg, April 3, Worst Taiwan Quake in 25 Years Leaves Nine Dead, Hundreds Injured
The Washington Post, April 3, X post
USA TODAY, Feb. 7, 2018, Taiwan earthquake survivors recall tales of escape: '4th floor became the 1st floor'
The Washington Post, Feb. 7, 2018, Taiwan rushes to find survivors in aftermath of deadly quake
Shutterstock, accessed April 3, Aftermath of earthquake that hit Taiwan's east coast, Hualien – 10 Feb 2018
Getty Images, Feb. 10, 2018, Taiwan quake
Japan Times, April 3, Japan lifts tsunami advisory after strong quake hits Taiwan
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Photo shows aftermath of Taiwan earthquake in 2018 | Fact check