About Natural Disaster
A natural disaster is a major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth; examples are floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other geologic processes.
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Hawaii wildfires: 'Directed energy weapon' and other false claims go viral
By Shayan Sardarizadeh and Mike WendlingBBC Verify and BBC News
False claims about the deadly wildfires in Hawaii - including that shadowy forces orchestrated the disaster with a laser Beam - have gained traction online.
The misleading posts come from a variety of sources and accounts, but generally imply that " elites" or government agencies deliberately started the fires.
Some of The MostContent ='JJ Lin'> popular theories are couched in questions about a " narrative" and make claims that Alternative ViewsContent ='JJ Lin'> are being " censored" despite collecting millions of views.
While there are specific rumours circulating about Maui, they fit into a general pattern repeatedly seen after Extreme WeatherContent ='JJ Lin'> events and Natural DisastersContent ='JJ Lin'> - politically motivated activists seeking to downplay the potential impact of Climate ChangeContent ='JJ Lin'> .
'Energy weapon'Videos and images claiming that the wildfires were not a Natural DisasterContent ='JJ Lin'> - and were instead caused by a " directed energy weapon" a " laser Beam " or ExplosionContent ='JJ Lin'> - have been viewed millions of times.
One video viewed 10 million times claims to show a large ExplosionContent ='JJ Lin'> in Maui just before the fires.
But the video was originally showing a transformer ExplosionContent ='JJ Lin'> in Chile .
, confirming The ExplosionContent ='JJ Lin'> Content ='JJ Lin'> was the result of a blown transformer caused by strong wind.
An image of a church On FireContent ='JJ Lin'> in Hawaii has been viewed 9 million times, with people claiming it shows a laser Beam rising from The ChurchContent ='JJ Lin'> into the sky.
However, The ImageContent ='JJ Lin'> has been digitally altered. which shows the Waiola ChurchContent ='JJ Lin'> in Lahaina In FlamesContent ='JJ Lin'> on 8 August.
Two other false images have been racking up huge numbers of views.
One shows a fireball and a bright streak of light Rising UpContent ='JJ Lin'> towards The NightContent ='JJ Lin'> sky. It, too, has been accompanied by claims that wildfires are not a natural phenomenon.
But a search on The InternetContent ='JJ Lin'> for previous versions of this image reveals the photo shows and was. The streak of light, known as a " light pillar" is.
A similar image claims to show a huge Beam of light in Maui just before the wildfires. But it shows in May 2018.
Why are trees standing?There are claims circulating about videos from Maui showing Some TreesContent ='JJ Lin'> Still StandingContent ='JJ Lin'> while houses and vehicles have been burned, with people pointing to the pictures as " evidence" that the fires were deliberately set or that their real cause is being hidden from The PublicContent ='JJ Lin'> .
One post on X, The PlatformContent ='JJ Lin'> formerly known as Twitter, includes a video of the destruction and The MessageContent ='JJ Lin'> : " Everything is burnt but The TreesContent ='JJ Lin'> , but don't point that out or you're a conspiracy theorist. " That post has been seen More ThanContent ='JJ Lin'> 24 million times.
But the photo - which was challenged by X's Community Notes feature, where users add context and facts around viral Content - Clearly shows burnt vegetation, along with some still-standing Palm TreesContent ='JJ Lin'> .
Some plants, known as pyrophytes,
'Elite land grab'Alongside the " directed energy weapon" rumours, speculation spread in viral posts that some of The IslandContent ='JJ Lin'> 's rich inhabitants and second-home owners deliberately started the wildfires to grab valuable land in Lahaina.
One viral video includes claims by a podcaster that native landowners in Maui have refused to sell land to Investment ManagementContent ='JJ Lin'> companies and rich locals. He notes the false " directed energy weapon" rumours before going on to speculate that there might be something to them because news outlets have called the rumours " conspiracy theories".
Another viral thread was seen 10 million times on an X account that frequently spreads false information debunked by Community Notes. It includes a list of wealthy people who purportedly own property on Maui, a video including aerial footage of Lahaina, and claims that The PatternContent ='JJ Lin'> of destruction is suspicious.
The CauseContent ='JJ Lin'> or causes of the fires on Maui are still unknown, but no Real EvidenceContent ='JJ Lin'> has emerged to suggest they were deliberately started as part of a land grab.
X did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
Related TopicsSource of news: bbc.com
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