Hong Kong fire video distorted as incident in Tel Aviv
Thai PBS Verify found the piece of disinformation on: X
A post in question appears on X, featuring footage of a high-rise building on fire. The post claims to show a severe blaze in Tel Aviv, Israel, accompanied by the caption: “UPDATE – Tel Aviv in Flames.” Since its publication on April 23, 2026, the post has reached a significant audience, accumulating upwards of 32,100 views and 2,000 likes.
A screenshot of the misleading X post.
The video in question is real, but traces back to the 2025 Hong Kong fire
Through keyframe extraction via InVID-WeVerify and subsequent Google Lens searches, Thai PBS Verify discovered that the video is actually from a residential blaze in Hong Kong. The footage aligns with multiple news sources reporting on a fire at Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district.
A reverse image search via Google Lens revealed that segments of the video actually match several media reports of the 2025 Hong Kong fire.
According to a Thai PBS report, a massive fire broke out at the Wang Fuk Court residential high-rise in Tai Po on the afternoon of November 26, 2025. The incident resulted in numerous casualties, including deaths, injuries and several individuals reported missing.
Meanwhile, the BBC provided special coverage of the incident, featuring firsthand accounts from survivors who described the devastating loss and the chaos during the fire. They further reported that a significant number of individuals remain missing
A targeted keyword search for ‘Wang Fuk Court’ in Tai Po, Hong Kong, led to further corroboration from international news outlets, including Reuters, which also provided extensive coverage of the fire incident.
While the primary source of the clip remains unidentified, Thai PBS Verify subjected the footage to AI-detection software. The results suggest that the video was not AI-generated.
A verification through AI-detection software suggests that the video is authentic.
A cross-reference between the video’s environment and Google Maps Street View imagery confirms that the location is consistent with the street view of Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong, rather than Tel Aviv as claimed.
A comparison between a frame from the purported Tel Aviv fire video (left) and the corresponding location of Tai Po Rd. on Google Maps Street View (right – dated 2023).
Another comparison between a frame from the video (left) and a matching view in Hong Kong from Google Maps (right – date 2023).
The 2025 Hong Kong fire image by AFP on November 27, 2025 (Dale De La Rey/AFP).
An overview of the current situation in Tel Aviv
On April 24, 2026, Reuters reported that Tel Aviv had come under attack following several waves of missile strikes launched by Iran against Israel.
A Reuters photo published on April 24, 2026 (Ronen Zvulun/Reuters).
The BBC also reported on April 24, 2026, that Iran had launched a new wave of attacks against Israel, damaging several residential buildings in Tel Aviv and the northern city of Nesher. While no fatalities have been reported thus far, local media indicate that approximately four people sustained minor injuries.
What is the truth?
Thai PBS Verify has looked into a viral video claiming to show a massive fire in Tel Aviv. The analysis confirms that the footage was not filmed in Israel, but actually depicts a residential building fire at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po, Hong Kong. The Hong Kong fire occurred on November 26, 2025.
Verification Process
- Verification via InVID WeVerify and Google Lens: Extracting and cross-referencing the keyframes, the team was able to discover that segments of the alleged Tel Aviv footage match several media reports. These sources identify the incident as the 2025 Hong Kong fire at Wang Fuk Court, a residential high-rise complex in Tai Po.
- Keyword Search and corroboration: A targeted search for ‘Wang Fuk Court’ in Tai Po, Hong Kong, led to further evidence from international news outlets, such as Reuters, which also provided extensive coverage of the fire at this specific location.
- AI content analysis: The footage was analyzed with advanced AI-detection tools. The results indicate no significant probability that the video was generated or manipulated by artificial intelligence.
- Cross-referencing with street view imagery: Thai PBS Verify took scenes from the video and compared them with Google Maps Street View at the reported location in Hong Kong. Despite the claims that the fire was in Tel Aviv, the physical environment and landmarks in the footage exactly match the streetscape of Wang Fuk Court, as documented in the 2025 Hong Kong fire reports.
Potential impacts of disinformation
- Misleading content like this skews the global narrative. By misidentifying the Hong Kong fire as an attack in Tel Aviv, it creates a false sense of escalation, leading to a flawed perception.
- It triggers disproportionate public panic. When graphic footage of a severe fire is falsely linked to a conflict zone, it fuels unnecessary anxiety and fear of violent events that are not actually occurring in that region.
- It results in the distortion of journalistic context. Utilizing archival footage or scenes from unrelated locations leads to profound misinterpretations, which ultimately undermines both public news analysis and informed decision-making.
- The spread of fake news devalues online credibility. When misinformation circulates unchecked, it breeds widespread doubt, eventually leading people to distrust social media content—even when the information is accurate.
What to do with this misinformation?
- Verify the source: Evaluate the credibility of the account sharing the information and check whether it includes clear, verifiable references to primary news sources.
- Cross-reference multiple sources: Conduct broader research by comparing the information with reports from established media outlets and recognized news organizations to ensure consistency and accuracy.
- Utilize visual verification tools: Employ resources such as Google Lens or reverse image search to trace the origin of an image and determine its previous usage or original context.
- Analyze the contextual details: Carefully examine visual elements within the footage, such as language on signs, local infrastructure and the overall environment. Ensure these details align with the claimed location to identify any geographical inconsistencies.
- Refrain from immediate sharing: If the authenticity of the information remains unverified, exercise caution and pause to investigate. By doing so, you prevent yourself from inadvertently becoming a link in the chain of misinformation.
Translation edited by: Peerachai Pasutan
