On social media, an image of landslides goes viral. While sharing this image user claims that “Today Wayanad, tomorrow it may be Tamil Nadu- Nilgiris or Kanyakumari, stop blasting rocks for your personal gain in Western ghats!”.
Fact Check
On investigation, DFRAC found that this image is from 2001 showing a landslide in El Salvador. We Found a report from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) stating “The 2001 El Salvador earthquake-induced landslide, located in a neighborhood near Santa Tecla, El Salvador, buried numerous homes under tons of earth. The Hotspots report identified El Salvador as being at high risk for landslides, earthquakes, floods, and cyclones”.
Furthermore, we also found a report from Britannica Kids mentioning “A landslide is a large amount of earth, rock, and other material that moves down a steep slope. Landslides happen when a layer of earth or rocks separates from the layer below it. The force of gravity pulls the loose layer downward”.
Conclusion
It is evident from the DFRAC’s Fact check that this image is not from Wayanad, Kerala but from 2001 a landslide in El Salvador EI Salvador. Therefore, the claim of social media users is misleading.
