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Building destroyed in Syrian airstrikes, not collapsed mortuary in West Africa

“Breaking News: 40 dead bodies died as mortuary collapse in Benin,” reads text on what seems to be a screenshot of a TV news broadcast by “Channel 127”. It shows a photo of a collapsed building.

The image was posted on Facebook in Nigeria on 22 August 2020 with the caption: “How can 40 dead bodies die as mortuary collapse in Benin City.... some of dis news caster are crap.”

Benin City is in southern Nigeria. Benin is Nigeria’s western neighbour.

Does the screenshot show a TV news report on a mortuary collapse in Benin or Benin City?  



Photo from Syria   


A TinEye reverse image search of the photo yielded several results, with the oldest part of a gallery on the devastation in Syria by Wayne Porteous, published in Mirror, a UK newspaper, in April 2013.

“A view shows buildings damaged by what activists say were missiles fired by Syrian Air Force fighter jets,” the photo’s caption reads.

Fabricated screenshot


No Nigeria TV station is known as Channel 127. 

The ridiculous headline – “40 dead bodies died” – as well as the mismatch with the photo on the screen and headline, the photo from Syria and news referring to Benin or Benin City are evidence the screenshot has been fabricated.

Africa Check has found no report by any credible media of a mortuary collapsing in Benin or Benin City.

The only incident like it was in June 2012, when an old hospital undergoing reconstruction collapsed in Benin City, trapping seven workers

It was said to have been an accident that occurred when a crane carrying concrete snapped and smashed the multifloor construction. No deaths were reported. – Allwell Okpi

 

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