The images are of two events that occurred in different places and on different dates and reflect a pattern of misinformation and clickbait.
It is false that two photos depicting what is supposedly the same accident are from the same incident and that this one “just happened” and left 34 dead, as stated in the text accompanying a post shared on Facebook . The images are from two different events, are not current, and are from different countries.
“National mourning has just occurred, a massive accident [ sic ] has left 34 dead…” is all that the text accompanying the photos says. In the top image, you can see what appears to be a yellow bus crushed by a truck, with firefighters working at the scene surrounded by people. In the photo below, several people watch a burning bus that is crossed in the middle of a multi-lane highway.
The first comment leaves a link that, in theory, leads to a video with more details about the accident. But in reality, it leads to a website that talks about a supposed weight-loss remedy.
A reverse image search on Yandex of the photo of the yellow bus reveals that the crash actually occurred in Honduras in February 2017, more than seven years ago.
Fox News covered the incident, which left 15 dead , and the caption of the photo illustrating the story, which is of the same incident but taken from a different angle, provides the name of the person who took it: Fernando Antonio, for the American news agency
AP .
A search of the photo section of that media outlet found the photograph used in the post circulating on social media to announce the alleged accident that “just occurred.” The description reads: “Emergency personnel responded to an accident involving a cargo truck and a bus on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on Sunday, February 5, 2017.”
“The cargo truck crashed into the bus on the highway outside the Honduran capital on Sunday, killing more than a dozen people, authorities said,” it added.
As for the second image, which shows a burning bus, a reverse image search on Google Lens returns several posts that place the photo on the outskirts of Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, in mid-December 2023. That’s eight months ago. According to reports, at least 30 people died .
While the Facebook post doesn’t specify where the incident occurred, it’s logical that the “massive accident that left 34” dead would be the same.
As for the link that supposedly leads to the video showing the accident, it opens a website that offers a supposed weight-loss remedy.
At elDetector, we ‘ve verified posts that falsely reported accidents and directed readers to click on a link that would take them to the full information, but instead directed them to an unrelated website. This is what’s known as
clickbait , and its purpose is to attract visitors to a website through eye-catching text. These visits can be converted into revenue.
The political landscape in America is shifting once again as Republican momentum continues to build across the nation. Recent results from several key red states have shown an impressive surge in GOP House seats, signaling growing frustration with Democratic leadership and renewed confidence in conservative policies.
Analysts point to issues such as inflation, border security, crime, and economic recovery as major factors driving voters toward Republican candidates. Many Americans in suburban and rural areas, in particular, are voicing strong disapproval of progressive agendas, which they feel have left communities behind.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic leaders now face mounting pressure as polls suggest that the “red wave” could extend further in upcoming elections. With Democrats losing ground, Republicans are seizing the opportunity to strengthen their foothold in Congress and push back against the policies of the Biden administration.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has continued to play a significant role in energizing GOP voters. His rallies across red states have drawn massive crowds, with many crediting him for uniting conservatives and fueling the momentum that has led to these gains.
As the GOP celebrates its victories, Democrats are left to regroup and reassess their strategies. With control of Congress increasingly at stake, the political battle is far from over — but one thing is clear: