Fact Check: AI-Generated Flood Video Falsely Presented as Footage of the 2026 Nepal Floods

On August 26, 2026, a massive flood occurred along the Nepal-China border. Following the disaster, many social media users shared images and videos purportedly related to the flooding. However, some of this content was unrelated to the disaster, shared in a misleading context, or generated using artificial intelligence.

One such example is a video shared on X on August 28, 2026, by a user named amanda_npo. The 10-second video purportedly shows scenes from the flood disaster in Nepal. The video has been viewed more than 665 times, reposted 15 times, and liked 51 times.

 

However, a subsequent investigation revealed that the video was not authentic and had been generated using artificial intelligence. To assess the authenticity of the footage, the video was examined using Gemini and UncovAI.

The video was initially analyzed using Gemini, which determined that the content had been generated using artificial intelligence. Gemini identified several potential indicators of AI generation, including unrealistic water dynamics, unnatural movement of objects, and visual rendering artifacts.

The video was subsequently analyzed using UncovAI, which also indicated that the footage was AI-generated.

 

Frames from the video were also examined using Google’s reverse image search to determine whether the footage had previously appeared online. The investigation revealed that the video had been shared not only by amanda_npo but also by numerous other users on X. Furthermore, the footage had circulated beyond X and appeared on several other social media platforms. For example, the video was uploaded to YouTube by a user named bmcvlogs88 and was also shared by users on Instagram.

Notably, the video also appeared on the official websites of some news organizations. For example, CNN Türk published the footage on its website under the headline “Footage of the Flood Disaster in Nepal.” The circulation of the video by news outlets is particularly significant because it demonstrates how AI-generated content can move beyond social media and enter the broader news ecosystem, potentially reaching audiences who may assume that footage published by established media organizations has already been verified.

In conclusion, the investigation indicates that the viral video does not authentically depict the August 2026 floods in Nepal. Analyses conducted using Gemini and UncovAI identified multiple indicators suggesting that the footage was generated using artificial intelligence, including unrealistic water dynamics, unnatural object movements, and visual rendering artifacts.

Despite being AI-generated, the video circulated across multiple social media platforms and was even published by some news outlets as footage of the Nepal floods. This case demonstrates how AI-generated content can move rapidly from social media into the broader information ecosystem and potentially be mistaken for authentic documentation of a real-world disaster. It also highlights the increasing importance of verifying the authenticity, source, and context of visual content before publication, particularly during breaking news events when misleading or fabricated footage can spread rapidly.

 

If you suspect that a video, image, or audio file has been created using artificial intelligence or deepfake technology and would like free assistance in verifying its authenticity, you may send the link to the content or the file itself to allaboutdeepfake@gmail.com