FACT CHECK: Video of explosive Mayon eruption is AI-generated

Claim: A video shows the current state of Mayon Volcano in Albay, with lava and pyroclastic flows seen on the slopes of the volcano.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The video, depicted as a breaking news report, has already received 259,000 views, 5,600 reactions, 1,200 shares, and 143 comments as of writing. It was posted on Monday, January 12, amid Mayon Volcano’s intensifying unrest under Alert Level 3. 

The video shows an explosive eruption of a volcano, followed by footage of lava flowing from the crater and hot gas and volcanic matter running down its slopes. Text overlaid on the video reads, “Breaking news: Mayon Volcano dome collapse, live update.” 

Several social media users were convinced that the events shown in the video happened in reality. 

The facts: The supposed news report uses AI-generated clips. Contrary to its claim that it shows live updates of Mayon Volcano, it does not show the true state of unrest at the volcano.

AI video detector Hive Moderation flagged both the audio and video of the post as 99.9% likely to contain AI-generated content. Undetectable AI also detected a 97% probability of AI content in the video. 

As of Wednesday, January 14, the volcano remains under Alert Level 3, which means there is intensified or magmatic unrest. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) placed the volcano under Alert Level 3 on January 6 as the collapse of the lava dome at the volcano’s summit generated pyroclastic density currents (PDCs).

In an earlier bulletin, Phivolcs said this means there is an “increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.”

A 100-meter-high lava fountain was observed from Mayon’s latest activity around 1:39 am on Tuesday, January 13. The volcano’s restiveness continues with 209 rockfall events and 46 PDCs recorded on Tuesday.

At least 4,039 individuals or 1,133 families have been displaced as of Monday due to the unrest.

On Sunday, January 11, state volcanologists advised residents in the 8-kilometer-radius extended danger zone to prepare for evacuation in case the volcano’s status is hoisted to Alert Level 4. 

Mayon unrest: Mayon is an active stratovolcano. The last time the volcano was placed under Alert Level 3 was in June 2023. Its most destructive eruption happened in 1814, when the volcano demonstrated a Plinian blast — the largest and most violent type of eruption — that killed over 1,200 people and destroyed the historic Cagsawa church.

Previous fact checks: Rappler has previously fact-checked similar false claims about Mayon Volcano. 

• FACT CHECK: Videos of Mayon eruption are AI-generated, volcano at Alert Level 3 as of January 9  
• FACT CHECK: No announcement of January 8 lockdown in Luzon due to Mayon Volcano unrest  
• FACT CHECK: No recent eruption at Mayon Volcano, video uses 2018 photos  

– Angelee Kaye Abelinde/Rappler.com 

Angelee Kaye Abelinde is a student journalist based in Naga City, and an alumna of Rappler’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship 2024. 

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