Unrelated Visuals of Cracks in Roads Falsely Linked to Telangana Earthquake

Two of the images were stock images, the other was credited to English daily Los Angeles Times.

Fact-Check: All three are unrelated to the recent earthquake in Telangana.

(Source: The Quint) 

A few visuals showing cracks on roads are being shared on social media platforms to claim that it shows the aftermath of the earthquake in Telangana.

An archive of the post can be found here. 

(Source: X) 

An archive of the post can be found here. 

(Source: Facebook) 

(Archives of similar claims can be found here and here.)

Is the claim true?: The claim is false.

• Two of the photos were stock images and the other was credited to English daily, Los Angeles Times.

What we found: We checked both the images separately and found the following:

IMAGE 1: We ran a Google reverse image search on the image and were led to the Shutterstock website.

• It carried the same image as the viral photo. It was uploaded on 23 May 2013 and the caption noted, "cracked asphalt after earthquake."

Here is the link to the image.

(Source: Shutterstock) 

IMAGE 2: Similarly, we ran another Google reverse image search and were led to an article by LA Times from 29 August 2018 which carried the same image as the viral photo. The article's headline was, "Earthquake preparedness: What to do before — and during — a big one"

• The image was credited to Allen J. Schaben from the daily and mentioned that it showed a crack on the road located in Huntington Beach, California.

Here is the link to the article. 

(Source: LA Times) 

IMAGE 3: Red FM Telugu uploaded a graphic about the earthquake in the state. We ran a Yandex and TinEye search on the image and found that it was also a stock image.

• A website called, 123RF featured the image which notes, "crack of asphalt road after earthquake."

Here is the link of the website. 

(Source: 123RF) 

TinEye also noted that some of the results were found in "stock."

Here is the link to the website. 

(Source: TinEye)

Earthquake in Telangana: The Hindu reported that on 4 December, a 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck Mulugu district which continued for a brief period, roughly 6 to 8 seconds.

• TS Divakara, Mulugu district collector stated that there has been no significant damage reported. Officials were instructed to examine rundown and provisional housing. "We are presently waiting for their report." “At this time, there have been no significant damages reported,” stated Divakara.

Conclusion: Three unrelated visuals have been falsely linked to the recent earthquake in Telangana.

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