Old video from Italy falsely shared linking to Jaipur gas tanker explosion

This viral video shows a petrol tanker crash near Bologna Airport in Italy in 2018

On 20 December, 2024, a tragic explosion and fire claimed 14 lives following a collision between an LPG gas tanker and a container on the Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The fire that ignited from the crash quickly spread over, engulfing nearly 34 vehicles in flames. Amidst this, a video of a tanker truck exploding on a highway with flames shooting into the air, followed by a thick cloud of black smoke and another major blast is going viral on social media with claims that it shows a recent explosion in Jaipur.

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Fact Check- 

We started our investigation with a reverse image search on Google and the results led us to a similar video uploaded on the Daily Mail YouTube channel on 07 August 2018, titled “CCTV captures moment tanker truck explodes in Italy.”

The description part states that it was CCTV footage from Italy, showing a petrol tanker driving straight into the vehicles in front at high speed, immediately catching fire on the motorway bridge near Bologna airport, Italy. It further adds that the burning vehicles later caused a massive explosion. The 41-year-old driver of the tanker was identified as one of the victims. Approximately 70 people were injured, some with serious burns.

Moving forward, we found a video report on Voice of America (VOA) Vietnamese on 8 August, 2018. Here the same video, but a red chimney appears on the left side, whereas in the viral video, it is on the right. The caption reads: “A fuel tanker exploded after colliding with a stationary lorry on a motorway in the northern Italian city of Bologna on August 6. The explosion created a huge fireball.”

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In further search we found several reports regarding this incident. BBC and CBS News published on 6 August 2018 featured visuals similar to the viral video. These reports detail that a tanker truck carrying liquefied petroleum gas collided with several vehicles, leading to a massive explosion on a highway near Bologna. 

Thus, taking account of all these evidences, we can understand that CCTV footage from Italy, showing a petrol tanker crash near Bologna Airport in 2018

 falsely shared linking to the Jaipur gas tanker explosion.

Conclusion- 

Fact crescendo found the claim made along with the viral video to be False. This viral video shows a petrol tanker crash near Bologna Airport in Italy in 2018. It is not related to Jaipur gas tanker explosion.