2015 video from Nepal shared as recent New Zealand Earthquake 

The viral video shows a “mini tsunami” in a hotel swimming pool during the massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal in 2015

The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in New Zealand’s Kermadec Islands region on March 16, Thursday. The depth of the quake was estimated to be 10 km (6.21 miles), and a tsunami warning was issued following the quake, according to the United States Tsunami Warning System. In the wake of this several unverified images, videos, and claims have surfaced on social media. 

Against this backdrop, a viral video showing waves in a swimming pool with people all around it is widely shared on social media. People claim that the video is from New Zealand when the earthquake struck. 

The cption of the post states “A strong #earthquake of 7.1 Magnitude hits #NewZealand today #NewZealandearthquake #sanliurfa. God save all mankind”.

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Fact Check- 

Our investigation began with a reverse image search of key frames from the viral video, which led us to a news article, titled: Nepal earthquake video: Watch ‘mini tsunami’ form in Kathmandu hotel swimming pool during April’s massive tremors” on the website of The Independent a British online newspaper, on 12 May 2015.

The report states video has emerged showing a “mini tsunami” in a hotel swimming pool during the massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal last month. The clip was captured by a Dutch couple as they swam in a hotel pool in Kathmandu. Luckily, most of the swimmers had exited the pool before the main tremors launched water out of the pool.

The image in the news article matches one of the keyframes of the viral video. The article informs us that the viral video is from the Nepal earthquake that hit the capital city Kathmandu in 2015. The ‘mini-tsunami’ in the swimming pool was a result of a 7.8 Richter scale earthquake. 

As per the Globo website The Dutch couples Adrian and Los Oktay have lived in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, Adrian filmed the despair of children and adults when the tremors began. In the video, it is possible to see the waves that formed in the pool of the hotel where they were, at the time of the earthquake.

We found the same video uploaded on YouTube with the caption “Earthquake April 2015 Nepal” The description of the video states that the incident happened in the Summit Hotel, Kathmandu.

The April 2015 Nepal earthquake also known as the Gorkha earthquake killed nearly 9000 people and injured 21,952 more. It occurred at 11:56 Nepal Standard Time on Saturday, 25 April 2015, with a magnitude of 7.8M or 8.1M.

Conclusion- 

Fact Crescendo found the claim made along with the viral video to be False. The viral video shows a “mini tsunami” in a hotel swimming pool during the massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal in 2015.  It is not related to the recent earthquake in New Zealand.