Video of ‘firefighters in Hong Kong’ actually shows blaze in Chile in 2024

With the rise of social media and generative AI, how much of what we see online is true? In this new series, SCMP Fact-Check, the Post investigates claims circulating online and debunks viral misinformation impacting the daily lives of Hongkongers.\nA 16-second clip was shared on Facebook on Thursday and has amassed more than 200,000 views.\n“Firefighters’ first person perspective. A tribute to firefighters #HongKongFire #FireRescue #Firefighters,” the post’s Chinese caption reads.\nThe video appears to show bodycam footage of firefighters battling an inferno.\n\nThe video is circulating online as Hong Kong reels from the city’s worst fire in decades that engulfed seven blocks in Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po last week.\nIt was also shared in similar posts online on Threads and Facebook.\nSeveral comments left by users indicate that they believe the video genuinely shows scenes from the Tai Po fire.\n“It’s lucky that Hong Kong has you,” one wrote in Chinese.\nBut the footage is actually from a fire in Chile in 2024.\nInvestigation\nA reverse image search on Google using one of the keyframes of the video found that it had been uploaded on YouTube by GoPro’s official account on November 9, 2024.\nThe footage in the Facebook reel corresponds to the 1:18 mark of GoPro’s video.\n“The brave men + women of the Third Fire Company of Ñuñoa went to work to put out the flames engulfing a burning house in Santiago, Chile ... as seen in fireman Joseth Abel Espinosa’s POV,” the video’s description reads.\nBelow is a comparison of the footage in the misleading posts (left) with the video from GoPro (right).\n\nUsing this information, the Post did a keyword search on Google and found the mentioned firefighter’s Instagram account, which also had a version of the video uploaded on November 11, 2024.\nAs the video has been online since at least 2024, it is clearly not tied to the recent incident in Tai Po.\nSCMP Fact-Check has reached out to the Facebook account owner for comment.\nVerdict: Misleading\nSeen something suspicious online? Tell us on factcheck@scmp.com.\n