FACT CHECK: Does This Video Show A Flooded Highway in Tampa?
A post on social media claims to show a flooded highway in Tampa, Florida, as people evacuate the approaching Hurricane Milton.
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Verdict: False
This video was taken in Mumbai, India. There is no “Western Express Highway” in Tampa.
Fact Check:
Hurricane Milton was an intense, Category 3 hurricane that slammed into the west coast of Florida Oct. 9, inflicting widespread flooding and wind damage. A preliminary estimate showed at least 41 tornadoes touched down in the state during the storm, according to USA Today.
A video being spread on Facebook purports to show a traffic jam on the “Western Exp Highway” in Tampa. The clip, taken from higher ground inside a building, captures cars wading through a road that is flooded with what looks like brown water going for miles ahead.
This clip is misleading, however. This footage actually shows Mumbai, India, not Tampa. Also, there is no “Western Expressway” or “Western Highway” in Tampa. (RELATED: Video Showing Path of Hurricane Milton Was Actually A Video Game Clip)
The Western Express Highway in Mumbai does exist, and did in fact flood recently. The area was drenched with heavy rainfall in late September 2024, which is when the original video was posted by Instagram user “laljipatel.”
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