Images shared on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter, purport to show a cat and dog hugging after a recent earthquake in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Cat hugs dog after surviving earthquake.#moroccoearthquake pic.twitter.com/P963GJRXTe
— 𝗛appy Ustaaz👳🏼♂️ (@Ussyy___) September 9, 2023
Verdict: Misleading
The claim is misleading. The images show a cat and dog hugging after a February 2023 earthquake that struck Turkey.
Fact Check:
Over 2,000 people have died as a result of a recent earthquake that struck Marrakesh, Morocco, according to CNN. The earthquake hit the country on Friday after 11 p.m. local time, the outlet reported.
“Cat hugs dog after surviving earthquake.#moroccoearthquake,” the X post viewed over 40,000 times, purports. In the images included in the post, a cat can be seen hugging a dog amid nearby rubble.
The image is not tied to the recent earthquake in Marrakesh, Morocco, however. The images were originally posted to X back in February 2023 following an earthquake that struck Turkey at the time.
“My heart’s sinking seeing this The cat hugging Dog after rescued May everyone lend help for Turkey,” the post’s caption reads. The post has received over 75,000 views as of writing.
My heart’s sinking seeing this 😭♥️
The cat hugging Dog after rescued May everyone lend help for Turkey 🇹🇷 ♥️#TurkeySyriaEarthquake #Turkey #TurkeyQuake #turkeyearthquake2023 #TurkeyEarthquake pic.twitter.com/VuoXePschn
— suzi_🎗 (@minbloke) February 8, 2023
Another iteration of the post, viewed over one million times, features the same images. This iteration does not mention the location where the earthquake occurred but was also shared on X in February 2023. (RELATED: Did FEMA Post Urging Burning Man ‘Survivors’ To Seek Housing At Its On-Site Station?)
Likewise, the photo of the two animals hugging has not been included in any credible news reports about the recent earthquake in Marrakesh, Morocco.
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey back in February, killing over 50,000 people, according to The Associated Press. Thousands of others have been left homeless or jobless, the outlet reported. In addition, 300,000 buildings were damaged as a result of the natural disaster.
Similarly, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake recently struck Marrakesh, Morocco, followed by a 4.9-magnitude aftershock, BBC News indicated. Prior to the recent natural disaster, the last time the country experienced an earthquake was in 2004, according to the outlet.
This is not the first time a misleading claim has circulated online. Check Your Fact previously debunked a social media post purporting to show an Israeli soldier brutally beating a Palestinian woman.