Viral "Erupting Volcano" Video in Indonesia Is Fake, Made by AI

A video appearing to show the eruption of Indonesia's Anak Krakatoa volcano has circulated widely on social media, despite not being genuine footage. Fact-checking organisations have confirmed that the clip was generated using artificial intelligence rather than filmed with a real camera.

The verification process revealed that although Anak Krakatoa is indeed an active volcano located in the Sunda Strait, the specific eruption depicted in the viral video never occurred. This case illustrates a growing concern among researchers: AI-generated content can convincingly imitate real disaster footage, making it increasingly difficult for the public to distinguish authentic events from fabricated ones.

The spread of such misinformation is particularly troubling when it coincides with real developments in the same region. Separately, a group of tourists from Navarra, in northern Spain, has found themselves stranded in Indonesia. They have described the experience as feeling endless, comparing it to "8,000 days" of travel, though no further details about the cause of their situation have been specified.

In another unrelated development, Indonesian authorities have launched a search operation for eight people reported missing after their boat failed to arrive at its destination. The group had reportedly been traveling toward Anak Krakatoa when contact was lost, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.

Together, these three stories underline the volcano's prominence in recent Indonesian news, whether as the backdrop of a fabricated viral video, a geographic reference point for stranded travelers, or the destination of a boat carrying passengers who have since gone missing. Authorities and fact-checkers continue to work on separate fronts: one verifying the authenticity of online content, the other attempting to locate the missing group.