Fact Check: Viral Theatre Roof Collapse Photo Misidentified as New Incident
A viral photo claiming to show a theatre ceiling collapse during a “Final Destination” screening in Argentina is actually old. The image is from a February incident in Washington state. While there was a ceiling collapse in Argentina, the shared photo is incorrectly linked to that event.
A viral photo, purportedly showing a theatre ceiling collapse during a “Final Destination” screening in Argentina, has been identified as an older image from the US. While there was indeed a ceiling incident during a screening of “Final Destination Bloodlines” in Argentina, the image circulating online actually originates from a separate occurrence in Wenatchee, Washington, during a showing of “Captain America: Brave New World” on February 25th.
On May 19th, 2023, Fiamma Villaverde celebrated her 29th birthday at Cinema Ocho in La Plata, Argentina, when the ceiling fell amidst heavy rains. She managed to escape with minor injuries to her legs, back, and shoulder. However, many misattributed a widely shared photo from a previous incident at an entirely different theatre.
In Washington state, the ceiling collapse occurred when just two patrons were viewing the superhero film. Fortunately, there were no injuries from that incident. The photo shows firefighters inside the theatre as debris litters the floor, with the movie still playing in the background — but it did not happen during the Argentine event.
A reverse image search revealed the link to the incident in Wenatchee, confirmed by an NBC News report from February 27th. The details on the two collapses also vary significantly. Reports from Argentina suggest only a small section of the ceiling came down during the “Final Destination” screening, while the Wenatchee incident was much larger, involving rafter beams and tiles affecting the front row of the theatre.
The photo used in connection with the Argentine incident has raised questions about the accuracy of information circulating online, especially in light of recent social media trends where old images are repurposed for current events. Fact-checkers have highlighted the ease with which misinformation can spread, and this case is a clear example of how images can be misconstrued in the public eye.
It’s important to verify sources, especially when dealing with shocking incidents. Given the significant public interest in both events, the ability to accurately discern facts from falsehoods is crucial.
As a reminder, India Today Fact Check encourages sharing verified information and clarifications on social media to combat the spread of misleading visuals.
In summary, while both theatre incidents involved collapse occurrences, the viral photo wrongly attributed to the recent Argentine event actually shows an earlier occurrence from Washington. Thus, no injuries were reported in the Washington incident, while the Argentine case did lead to injuries for one individual. This highlights the importance of verifying claims and images before sharing them, particularly in sensational contexts.
Original Source: www.indiatoday.in
