A Facebook reel has repurposed video clips of supertyphoon Trami, locally known as Paeng, from 2018 to make them appear as those of supertyphoon Pepito that ripped through the country last Nov. 16.
A keyframe analysis and a reverse image search reveal that the media clips of Trami used in the reel shared on Facebook page Kuya Edz Vlog on Nov. 17 at 12:57 p.m. (Manila time) were taken by European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Alexander Gerst when the category 5 cyclone was moving toward Japan in late September of 2018.
The post was accompanied by the caption:
As of now, kahit wala na si BAGYONG PEPITO..
Keep safe parin ang lahat
(As of now, even if Bagyong Pepito has passed, let us all keep safeThe video also contained the following text:
The video also contained the following text:
Ganito pala ang bagyo-shookt me (So this is what the storm is like. I’m shocked).
At the time of the video’s posting, Pepito (international name: Man-Yi) had not yet left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the eye of the typhoon made landfall at 9:40 p.m. on Nov. 16. Its weather bulletin at the time the Facebook reel was posted reported that the typhoon was 120 km east southeast of Baler, Aurora. Pepito exited PAR on Nov. 18.
The clips of supertyphoon Paeng (international name: Trami) were taken by Gerst from inside the International Space Station on Sept. 25, 2018. At the time, the cyclone was moving toward Japan. Paeng killed two as it made landfall in Japan on Sept. 30, 2018.
Trami was also the international name of tropical storm Kristine which made landfall in the Philippines on Oct. 24, 2024. The cyclone made landfall in the province of Isabela, forcing millions to evacuate their homes and leaving at least 150 casualties in its wake. (RJ)