Is This CCTV Footage of Tonga Volcano Eruption? | Snopes.com

Curious about how Snopes’ writers verify information and craft their stories for public consumption? We’ve collected some posts that help explain how we do what we do. Happy reading and let us know what else you might be interested in knowing. In the days following a large volcano eruption that took place off the coast of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai in the southern Pacific Ocean on Jan. 14, 2022, a number of videos showing the chaotic scene were circulated on social media. One such video claimed to show CCTV footage of the eruption: This is not a genuine video of the Tonga volcano eruption. This is a simulation video that was created with computer software.  The video was created circa 2011 by researchers at Victoria University and the Auckland War Memorial Museum in order to show the impact a volcano eruption could have on the area. Brandspank, a VFX (visual effects) company in New Zealand, shared the video on Vimeo along with a caption explaining that “high end 3D technologies and particle effects were combined with a background plate” to create a “realistic rendering of a catastrophic event.” The video was also posted to the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s YouTube page…
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