Claim: A photo shows scenes of devastation as Typhoon Marce (Yinxing) ravaged Cagayan province on Thursday, November 7.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: Multiple Facebook pages and users have posted the image. The captions in the posts claimed the photo was taken in Cagayan, causing unwarranted distress and fear among netizens.
The image was earlier posted on two Facebook pages, San Pablo Laguna Spotted and Admin/Ming, which garnered 5,100 shares and 1,300 shares respectively. As of writing, both pages have changed the photos and sources cited in their posts but have not issued any erratum.
The facts: The Cagayan Provincial Information Office issued an alert on November 7 about the photo, labeling it as “fake news.”
“Ang kumakalat na larawang ito sa social media ay hindi kuha sa probinsiya ng Cagayan (The photo circulating on social media was not taken in Cagayan province),” it said.
This clarification, however, has so far only reached over a thousand engagements, significantly lower than the reach and engagements of the two misleading posts.
The provincial information office also warned the public not to believe information posted by unofficial social media accounts.
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Image source: A reverse image search shows that the image can be traced to an article published at MeteoWeb, an Italian-language website. However, the article did not cite any sources or photo credit.
Impact of Marce: Marce, the Philippines’ 13th tropical cyclone for 2024, made landfall twice in Cagayan on November 7, causing extensive damage in the province. Several mainstream media outlets like Rappler, GMA News, and ABS-CBN reported on the impact of the typhoon in Santa Ana, Cagayan, which was hit by a storm surge, severe winds, and heavy rain.
According to the latest update from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, Marce exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday afternoon. – Reinnard Balonzo/Rappler.com
Reinnard Balonzo is a senior journalism student at Bicol University-College of Arts and Letters. An Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow of Rappler for 2024, he is also chairperson of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines-Bicol.
This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
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