Hoax – An enormous chunk of ice allegedly hit a house and destroyed its roof.
Analysis
Content that mixes the grandeur of extreme natural phenomena and the consequent destruction generated has an enormous potential for going viral on platforms like TikTok. The appeal is immediate, as it plays with curiosity, astonishment, and the feeling that an incredible event is happening right before our eyes.
It is in this scenario that apparently realistic videos are widely used to garner views and fast engagement. Today, we will talk about a message that spread across different profiles and in multiple language versions and points to a colossal ice chunk falling and causing damage. Read some messages and watch the video:
Version 1: Mystery from Above, enormous chunk of ice falls in an inland city #viral Version 2: Giant chunk of ice falls on a house and destroys the roof #ice #destroy #viral #tiktok #Renildo @hora.do.produto Version 3: Hielo gigante cae del cielo. (Giant ice falls from the sky.)
@fabian_eu_ Mistério vindo do Alto , enorme pedaço de gelo cai em cidade do interior de São Paulo #viral ♬ original sound – DOSKYPLAY
Fact Check
The story that a gigantic chunk of ice fell from the sky, destroying a house, does not withstand a detailed analysis. To investigate thoroughly what is behind this viral video, we answer three central questions: 1) Is the video showing a gigantic chunk of ice falling from the sky and hitting a house real? 2) How was the video showing a gigantic chunk of ice falling from the sky and hitting a house made? 3) What was the largest hailstone ever recorded?
Is the video showing a gigantic chunk of ice falling from the sky and hitting a house real?
No, the video is entirely fake and was created using Artificial Intelligence resources. There is absolutely no official record, whether from meteorological organizations or the press, about a chunk of ice with the dimensions shown falling and causing the type of destruction displayed. The chaotic scenario is a digital simulation. The content lacks a reliable source and uses visual appeal to deceive the public.
How was the video showing a gigantic chunk of ice falling from the sky and hitting a house made?
The video was generated using Artificial Intelligence tools, creating a computer-generated imagery (CGI) effect that simulates realism. The inconsistency between the different versions of the viral content is the main proof of manipulation: in one filming angle, the object hits the roof of the house and causes damage, while in another angle of the “same” event, the roof is not hit. Such a contradiction would be impossible in a real, spontaneous event.
Furthermore, the disproportionate size of the object already indicates that it is a digital production, as hail formations in nature do not reach such dimensions. In addition, the video has an Artificial Intelligence watermark, Sora.
What was the largest hailstone ever recorded?
The largest hailstone ever recorded in the world is significantly smaller and lighter than the ice “rock” displayed in the fake video. The world record for the largest diameter belongs to a stone that measured approximately 20 centimeters. The heaviest one weighed about 1.02 kg, a negligible weight compared to the hundreds of kilograms that the stone displayed in the viral video would weigh. Thus, Physics and Meteorology confirm the infeasibility of a hail formation with the dimensions presented in the content.
Conclusion
The video showing a colossal chunk of ice falling and destroying a house is a digital creation. The evidence points to the use of Artificial Intelligence or computer-generated imagery (CGI) effects, as there is inconsistency between the filming angles of the “same” event, and the object has a size totally disproportionate to the largest hailstone ever recorded. The content, which circulated in different versions, has no basis in reality and aims only for high engagement on social media. Therefore, the story that went viral is false.
Fake news ❌
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