FACT CHECK: Does This Video Show Cats Right Before The Turkey Earthquake?

Elias Atienza | Fact Check Reporter

A video shared on Facebook claims to show cats acting in a strange manner moments before the Turkey earthquake.

Verdict: False

The video is from 2018 and shows cats reacting before an earthquake in Japan, not Turkey.

Fact Check:

An earthquake hit Turkey and Syria in early February, killing over 37,000 and trapping thousands more under rubble, according to Reuters. Aid trucks have successfully reached Bab al-Salam, Syria, following widespread criticism from the Syrian government over lack of aid, according to AlJazeera.

The video claims to show “strange behavior” in cats just before the earthquake hit Turkey. A link to a Rumble page appears to show cats being unexpectedly woken up and running away before shaking is seen in the footage.

The video, however, is not from the Turkey earthquake. Through a reverse image search, Check Your Fact found that the video has been circulating since 2018 and likely shows cats before an earthquake in Japan. The video was posted to YouTube with the title “Cat Cafe Catchy Earthquake.”

The video’s description reads, “At around 7:58 on June 18, 2018, a seismic intensity of 3 (Northern Osaka seismic intensity 6 lower) It is an image of the surveillance camera of the cat cafe catchy in Wakayama city. It was unmanned before opening. Luckily, the cat and his belongings were safe.”

There was an earthquake that hit Wakayama in June 2018, according to Japan Times. The earthquake killed four people and injured over 300, the outlet reported. (RELATED: Does This Video Show An ‘Ascension’ Occurring After The Recent Earthquake In Turkey?)

This is not the first time misinformation involving the recent earthquake and pet rescues has spread online. Check Your Fact recently debunked a video claiming to show a cat rescued in the aftermath of the quakes.

Elias Atienza

Fact Check Reporter
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