Picture shows Chernobyl nuclear plant control room, not Pakistan airbase after Indian strikes
"Scene at Nur Khan Airbase," reads the Hindi-language post sharing the photo published on Facebook on May 18.
The facility was among the three Pakistan airbases targeted by Indian missiles a week earlier, as New Delhi and Islamabad engaged in an intense four-day conflict (archived link).
The fighting killed more than 70 people in both countries before a ceasefire was agreed on May 10 (archived link).
The conflict was sparked by a militant attack on April 22 in Indian-controlled Kashmir, which killed 26 people, mainly Hindu men. New Delhi blamed Pakistan for backing the attack, which Islamabad denies (archived link).
The false post spread among Hindi-speaking users on Facebook and X, where it was shared hundreds of times.
Some users appeared to believe the claim is genuine.
One user commented, "Well-established airbases were destroyed, thanks to our soldiers."
"Beautiful view. My heart felt happy," another wrote.
But a Google reverse image search reveals the false picture actually shows the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant's control room, similar to those seen on stock photo websites Alamy and Adobe Stock (archived here and here).
CNN published a picture showing a wide view of the room in a report on May 29, 2020 taken by German photographer Bernhard Ludewig (archived link).
Ludewig told AFP on May 22 that the image circulating online depicts the power plant's control room.
"There is basically just one good photo spot left today... so most pictures will show things from a very similar perspective," he said in an email.
The Telegraph also published a video filmed in the plant on October 25, 2019 showing similar visuals (archived link).
A reactor at the Chernobyl power plant exploded during a botched safety test on April 26, 1986, resulting in the world's worst nuclear accident, which sent clouds of radiation across much of Europe and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate (archived link).
AFP has debunked other misinformation stemming from the conflict between India and Pakistan.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jonathan Joss' Husband Breaks Silence Over Actor's Horrific Cause of Death
Jonathan Joss' Husband Breaks Silence Over Actor's Horrific Cause of Death originally appeared on Parade. King of the Hill star Jonathan Joss' husband has broken his silence following the voice actor's untimely and horrifying death, allegedly at the hands of one of their neighbors. As Parade previously reported, Joss, 59, was shot multiple times, reportedly during an unspecified altercation with a neighbor in south San Antonio. He was pronounced dead at the scene. It was unclear at the time what had sparked the altercation, but Tristan Kern de Gonzalestook to his late partner's Facebook account on the afternoon of June 2 to recount the details of the terrible incident that took Joss' life the night prior. According to the post, the pair had returned to their former home in San Antonio, which had previously burned down, to check the mail when they were met with a distressing sight: the skull and harness of one of their dogs, placed in direct view. "This caused both of us severe emotional distress," Kern de Gonzales wrote, noting that it was while they were expressing their grief a man approached, "started yelling violent homophobic slurs," and raised a gun and fired on them. Kern de Gonzales explained that, while living in the neighborhood, the two suffered years' worth of "threats from people in the area who repeatedly told us they would set [our home] on fire" and were "harassed regularly by individuals who made it clear they did not accept our relationship" and were "openly homophobic." He continued, "Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone. We were grieving," revealing that Joss pushed Kern de Gonzales out of the way when their assailant opened fire and saved his life. "He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other." Kern de Gonzales concluded the devastating update by letting friends and fans know, "I was with him when he passed. I told him how much he was loved. To everyone who supported him, his fans, his friends, know that he valued you deeply. He saw you as family. My focus now is on protecting Jonathan's legacy and honoring the life we built together." Earlier on Monday, police confirmed that they'd arrested Sigfredo Alvarez-Cega in connection to Joss' death, charging the man with murder and setting his bail at $200, Joss' Husband Breaks Silence Over Actor's Horrific Cause of Death first appeared on Parade on Jun 2, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Minister Anandasangaree to announce new measures to strengthen border security
OTTAWA, ON, June 2, 2025 /CNW/ - Members of the media are invited to join the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, for a press conference on new measures to strengthen border security. Prior to the press conference, Government of Canada officials will host a media technical briefing. Journalists will have the opportunity to ask questions to officials attending in a not-for-attribution capacity. 1. Media Technical BriefingEvent: Hybrid (In-person and virtual)Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2025Time: 10:30 a.m. EDTLocation: National Press Theatre, 180 Wellington Street, Room 325, Ottawa, Ontario 2. Press conferenceEvent: In-personDate: Tuesday, June 3, 2025Time: 11:30 a.m. EDTLocation: Parliament of Canada, Foyer, 3rd floor, West Block, Ottawa, Ontario Notes for media: Participation in the question and answer portion of these events is in-person or via Zoom, and is for accredited members of the Press Gallery only. Media who are not members of the Press Gallery may contact pressres2@ for temporary access. Accredited media representatives who wish to take part in the briefing at the National Press Theatre may attend in person and must arrive 15 minutes in advance to sign-in and present photo ID and credentials. Photo ID must be visible at all times. Media who join in-person will have an opportunity to ask questions. Simultaneous translation and audio feed will be available for media on-site. Stay connected Follow Public Safety Canada on X, LinkedIn and YouTubeFollow Don't Drive High on Facebook and Instagram SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada View original content:
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Mongolia PM loses parliament confidence vote, resigns
Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene resigned on Tuesday, a parliamentary statement said, after losing a confidence vote among lawmakers. The secret ballot followed days of protests in the capital Ulaanbaatar against alleged corruption. Speaking after the result of the vote was announced to parliament, Oyun-Erdene said: "It was an honour to serve my country and people in times of difficulties, including pandemics, wars, and tariffs." He will remain as caretaker prime minister until his successor is appointed within 30 days. Mongolia, a landlocked democracy in northern Asia, has battled deep-seated corruption for decades. Many in the country believe that wealthy elites are hoarding the profits of a years-long coal mining boom at the expense of the general population. Since Oyun-Erdene took power in 2021, Mongolia has plummeted in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index. The country has seen frequent protests and unrest, and hundreds of young people turned out in Ulaanbaatar last week calling for his resignation. Fuelling public outrage are accusations that members of the prime minister's family are enjoying lavish lifestyles far beyond what a civil servant on the public dime could afford. In a statement to AFP last month, the prime minister's office said it "vehemently" denied the allegations, describing them as a "smear". Concerns over the economy and rising living costs have also stoked the unrest. Some counter-protesters -- overwhelmingly older than their pro-opposition counterparts -- also turned out to support the prime minister. - Secret ballot - Mongolia has been ruled by a three-way coalition government since elections last year resulted in a significantly reduced majority for Oyun-Erdene's Mongolian People's Party (MPP). But the MPP evicted the second-largest member, the Democratic Party (DP), from the coalition last month after some younger DP lawmakers backed calls for Oyun-Erdene's resignation. The move pushed the country's political scene into further uncertainty. Some 82 lawmakers participated in the secret ballot, with 44 voting for retaining confidence in Oyun-Erdene, and 38 against. The ballot did not reach the 64-vote threshold required from the 126-seat parliament, prompting Oyun-Erdene to stand down. On Monday, hundreds of young protesters crowded onto the square outside the parliament building, marching with white placards and chanting: "It is easy to resign." Organiser Ulamsaikhan Otgon, 24, said the weeks of demonstrations "have showcased throughout that young people are very sensitive to unfairness" in society. Yroolt, a 30-year-old content creator, said it was the second demonstration he had attended. "The reason I came is because I want a different life, a different society," he told an AFP reporter, declining to share his last name out of privacy concerns. "We all know injustice is deeply embedded in our society but it's time for change." str/je/tym
