A YouTube video claims that a Super Typhoon named Alakdan has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and will make landfall in the country. This is fake. There is no tropical cyclone threatening to hit the country within days, according to the latest forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Uploaded on Jan. 4, the video carried a headline that read:
“SUPER TYPHOON NGAYONG LINGGO! BAGYONG “ALAKDAN” (This week! Typhoon Alakdan) LATEST WEATHER UPDATE! JAN 4, 2024.”
Its thumbnail also bore a photo of former GMA News resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz along with a text saying: “BAGYONG ALAKDAN. BAGONG SUPER TYPHOON, PUMASOK NA. (Typhoon Alakdan. New super typhoon has entered).”
None of PAGASA’s recent weather bulletins mentioned anything about an impending super typhoon. In fact, there is no active tropical cyclone currently within and outside PAR, the bureau says in its website.
The state weather bureau also said in a Jan. 8 advisory it is unlikely that a tropical cyclone will form until Jan. 21.
PAGASA just released the list of tropical cyclone names for 2024. According to the list, the first tropical cyclone to enter PAR will be named Aghon. Alakdan is one of 10 backup names that the agency could use if the number of cyclones for the year exceeds 25.
The erroneous video merely showed a montage of past storms while audio from a Jan. 3 PAGASA weather bulletin played in the background.
Uploaded by verified YouTube channel Balitang Pinas, the video has received 92,843 interactions. The same channel later repeated the claim in two videos uploaded on Jan. 5 and 7.
Facebook users also reposted the links.
VERA Files Fact Check has previously flagged this account for spreading weather-related disinformation.
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