Conspiracy Theories of Manmade Earthquake Spread Following Kumamoto Disaster
3 sources across 2 countries · Japan · Hong Kong
Who reported this
- Kyodo News
- NHK
- South China Morning Post
What the colours mean
- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
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Claims that a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture was manmade have spread widely online following the disaster on July 28. Data from U.S. firm Meltwater showed that Japanese language posts mentioning an artificial earthquake surged from hundreds in the days before the event to about 10,000 on the day of the quake and approximately 38,000 the following day. One post claiming the seismic wave was an explosion rather than a quake reached around 3 million views. Experts and the Seismological Society of Japan have dismissed these theories as unrealistic. They cite the technological and financial impossibility of drilling to the earthquake's depth of 16 kilometers and the lack of established technology to trigger a nuclear explosion at such depths. The Japan Fact-check Center noted that social media reward structures for engagement contribute to the spread of such misinformation. Additionally, a professor of disaster psychology at the University of Hyogo stated that people in anxious situations often prefer simple narratives over complex explanations. Meanwhile, NHK reported that disaster victims continue to face difficult conditions due to extreme heat and a typhoon, leading to calls for volunteer support.
How each side framed it
- Centre
- These outlets focused on debunking the conspiracy theories with scientific evidence and explaining the psychological and financial drivers of misinformation.
- Centre-right
- This outlet framed the event as a sweep of conspiracy theories and misinformation while highlighting the expert consensus on its impossibility.
Sources
93% of the statements in this article were traced back to the source articles listed above.