Claim: A video shows an overflowing manhole during the recent monsoon spell in Karachi.
Fact: The claim is misleading as the video was shared online as early as February 2024, during heavy rainfall in the city.
Following a monsoon spell in Karachi on 19 August, a video was shared on social media with the caption: “Just In: Huge oil reserves discovered in Karachi.”
Heavy rains disrupt Karachi
On Tuesday, 19 August, heavy downpours hit Karachi, leaving commuters stranded for hours in massive traffic jams. Rainwater quickly accumulated on the city’s major roads, reported Dawn. At least seven people lost their lives on the first day, prompting the mayor to declare a rain emergency.
Widespread power outages plunged several areas into darkness, adding to residents’ difficulties. Domestic and international flight operations at Jinnah International Airport were severely affected, with the Pakistan Aviation Authority (PAA) confirming that multiple flights were delayed, cancelled or diverted to alternative airports due to the inclement weather, according to Dawn.
Given the severity of the situation, the provincial administration declared a public holiday in Karachi on 20 August. By Wednesday, the death toll had risen to 14, while rainwater remained accumulated across the city.
Amid this situation, social media users shared videos of various flooded areas across the city. The claim being fact-checked also appears to have circulated in this context.
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check reverse-searched keyframes of the viral video and found that multiple X users had shared the video as early as 4 February 2024. Their posts can be viewed here and here. While the captions confirmed that the video was filmed in Karachi, it did not specify the exact location.
We then searched for news reports about heavy rains in Karachi from February 2024 to gain further context about the video. A Hum News report, titled “Karachi continues to battle chaos as heavy rainfall submerges major arteries”, published on 4 February 2024, carried a cover image matching a keyframe of the video. Although the report did not specify the video’s location, its reference to the February 2024 rainfall suggests it was likely filmed during that time. This means the video is not connected to the recent monsoon rains in Karachi.
Virality
The video was shared here, here, here, here, here, and here on Facebook. Archived here, here, here, here, here, and here.
On X, it was shared here, here, and here. Archived here, here, and here.
Conclusion: A video showing an overflowing manhole appeared online as early as 4 February 2024, and is unrelated to the recent monsoon spell in Karachi.
–
Background image in cover photo: Sabir Mazhar/Dawn
To appeal against our fact-check, please send an email to appeals@sochfactcheck.com