Ship fire or Houthi’s drone attack? Read the Fact Check

On social media platform X a video is being shared by the user @Rizwanmalik49 with the caption that reads Houthis are unstoppable. United States, Israel & their European allies have failed to stop Houthi missile and drone attacks. Ignoring Houthi warnings are not good and is very expensive.

Fact Check

DFRAC team fact-checked the viral claim made by the user and after conducting a reverse image search we found that the video in question is actually of the container ship Xpress Pearl which caught fire in 2021 after a chemical leak and reaction involving hazardous materials like nitric acid.

The information provided states that on May 20, 2021, the Xpress Pearl burst into flames about 9.5 nautical miles from the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The fire started from a leak of chemicals the ship was transporting. It was initially brought under control on May 21.

However, on May 25, the containers on board exploded, causing at least 8 to fall into the water with 25 tons of nitric acid and other chemicals, reigniting an out-of-control fire fanned by strong winds.

After investigating we found several Youtube videos by BBC News and Newsfirst Sri Lanka who shared the aerial views of the ship burning.

Additionally, On investigating credible media reports by NDTV World and Splash we discovered a statement from X-Press Feeders’ executive chairman  Tim Hartnoll who said poor packaging of the acid cargo caused the initial leak that led to the fire.

Conclusion

It is clear from DFRAC’s fact check that there are no facts to support the claim that the video shows unstoppable Houthi missile or drone attacks against the US and allies, hence the claim made by the user @Rizwanmalik49 is false and misleading as the video is of a fire incident near Sri Lanka caused by a chemical leak, and it has no apparent connection to the situation described in the claim.