Social media has been flooded with videos allegedly showing the earthquake and subsequent tsunami affecting both Russia and Japan. As is common during major natural disasters that impact multiple countries, misinformation spreads rapidly, making it difficult to distinguish between genuine footage and misleading content.
Video 1: Beluga Whales on Russian Coast
Claim: Beluga whales appeared just before the 8.7 magnitude earthquake in Russia
Fact Check:
We found that the video is from 2023. According to the Newsweek report, beluga whales were stranded on a beach near the mouth of the Tyigil River in the Russian Far East. A total of five whales were stranded: four adult belugas and one calf. Local fishermen worked together to care for and assist the whales by pouring water on them to prevent overheating and to keep their skin moist. Eventually, when the tide came in, all five whales were able to return safely to the sea on their own.
The incident occurred in an area with a high risk of earthquakes. It is speculated that the whales may have been stranded due to abnormal tides or waves possibly linked to seismic activity or a tsunami. However, the video and the story are from 2023 and are not related to more recent earthquakes in 2025.
Video 2: Greenland Landslide Misrepresented
Claim: An 8.7 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula
Fact Check:
This video shows a 2017 landslide in Greenland, not a Russian earthquake. On June 17, 2017, a massive landslide on the Umiammakku Nunaat peninsula created a tsunami with waves reaching 10m high at Nuugaatsiaq village. The disaster killed four people, injured nine others, destroyed eleven buildings, and led to the evacuation of about 200 residents to Uummannaq. See the full video below.
Video 3: Real Kamchatka Quake, But From 2024
Claim: Footage showing a room during an earthquake, claimed to be from the recent Russian earthquake.
Fact Check:
This video is indeed from Kamchatka, Russia. However, the footage was filmed in August 2024, not July 2025. According to Reuters, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka coast at a depth of 51 km in August 2024. While the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center initially warned of a tsunami threat, Russia’s emergency ministry confirmed there was no danger, with aftershocks ranging from 3.9 to 5.0 magnitude.
Video 4: AI-Generated “Tsunami from Airplane”
Claim: Footage allegedly shows a recent tsunami in Japan from an airplane perspective.
Fact-check:
Our investigation reveals this video is AI-generated, not real tsunami footage. The TikTok creator “@t.ho.m.1.1.02” clearly stated it was AI-generated in the caption.
https://www.tiktok.com/@t.ho.m.1.1.02/video/7532686311015157014
Video 5: Misattributed Durban Wave Shared as Pacific Tsunami
Claim: Video from the recent Tsunami that hit the Pacific coast.
Fact Check:
This video has appeared on social media multiple times over the years in connection with different tsunami events worldwide. It has been shared as purportedly showing a tsunami in Turkey. However, we found that the footage was actually from Durban, South Africa. As reported by the Telegraph, on March 14, 2017, Durban’s North Beach experienced an unexpected “mini-tsunami” when a massive wave crashed against the coastline, causing damage to beachside businesses and killing at least three people.
Source: Connect News SA
Kamchatka Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Alerts (July 30-31, 2025)
On July 30, 2025, a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, with its epicenter in the Pacific Ocean. This rare megaquake triggered a Pacific-wide tsunami warning, affecting multiple countries.
Japan
Tsunami waves of up to 3 meters struck coastal areas in Hokkaido and Honshu, prompting the evacuation of approximately 1.9 million people. In several prefectures, actual wave heights reached around 1.3 meters, flooding some ports and disrupting transportation. Authorities urged residents not to return until all warnings were lifted. Despite the scale of the alert, no major injuries have been reported.
Other Regions
- In Russia, tsunami waves up to 5 meters hit Severo-Kurilsk and nearby coastal towns. Damage to buildings was reported, but casualties were minimal.
- In the U.S., tsunami warnings were issued in Alaska, Hawaii, and the West Coast. Hawaii saw waves around 1.5 meters, leading to coastal evacuations before alerts were downgraded.
- Countries in South America including Chile, Peru, and Ecuador activated tsunami evacuation plans. Chile issued a red alert along its coast and Easter Island, though waves were smaller than feared.
- French Polynesia and New Zealand also issued tsunami advisories, but reported low wave activity.
This earthquake ranks among the six strongest ever recorded. While most tsunami warnings have since been lifted or downgraded, aftershocks (some over magnitude 6) continue, and coastal authorities across the Pacific remain on alert.
Sources: Reuters, Time, Al Jazeera, CNN, DW
Conclusion
Our investigation revealed that none of the viral videos supposedly showing the July 2025 Russia-Japan earthquake and tsunami actually depict the current disaster. The examined footage consists of old content from previous incidents (dating back to 2017 and 2023-2024) and AI-generated dontent falsely presented as authentic documentation of the recent events.
Title:Misleading Videos Shared as 2025 Russia-Japan Tsunami Footage
Fact Check By: Cielito WangResult: Misleading
