A video claiming to capture a Direct Energy Weapon (DEW) strike in Chile has been making rounds on social media, stirring rumours of a potential high-tech attack. The video’s context, however, has been misinterpreted. It is not a DEW strike but rather an optical illusion resulting from an electric generator explosion in the Macul sector of Santiago de Chile on May 26th, 2023. Many netizens shared the video with the wrong context leading to several misinterpretations.
The video at the centre of the controversy was initially shared on TikTok [archive], supposedly capturing a dramatic event linked to the Maui fires. However, a comprehensive investigation unveiled that the video was, in fact, taken in Chile and unrelated to the Hawaiian wildfires.
Chilean news outlet Chilevision News featured the same video in their report, providing accurate information about the incident. The footage depicted an electric generator explosion caused by strong winds in the Macul community of Santiago. The bright flash of light that misled viewers was a result of this explosion, not a DEW strike.
Direct Energy Weapons are real, employing electromagnetic systems to focus energy on targets, potentially causing harm. DEWs encompass electromagnetic systems with the ability to transform chemical or electrical energy into radiated energy, concentrating it on a target. This process leads to tangible harm by weakening, incapacitating, or annihilating an adversary’s capability. Naval DEWs comprise setups utilizing High Energy Lasers (HEL), discharging photons, and High Power Microwaves (HPM), emitting radiofrequency waves. The U.S. Navy employs DEWs to project power and execute cohesive defence missions. However, the viral video does not capture a DEW attack. DEWs encompass high-energy lasers and microwaves, whereas the video portrays a generator explosion, an entirely different event.
Separate from the Chile incident, the tragic wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, claimed the lives of 111 individuals. However, attempts to link the Chilean explosion video to the Hawaiian disaster were baseless. The video predates the Hawaii wildfires and has no relevance to them.
The intent behind the circulation of this video appears to be the garnering of attention on social media platforms and inducing panic. False information was disseminated, suggesting that the explosion seen in the video was connected to a fire-like laser weapon intentionally targeted at the Maui fires in Hawaii. This misinformation quickly spread, leading to divided opinions. Misinterpretation led to misleading claims, linking the video to the Hawaii wildfires. Our team did an in-depth investigation and we have embedded the tweet below.
Claim: The viral video depicts a Direct Energy Weapon (DEW) strike during the Maui wildfires in Hawaii.
Fact: The video actually shows an electric generator explosion in Chile and is unrelated to the Maui wildfires or any DEW strike.
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In our pursuit of accurate and unbiased information, we’ve diligently fact-checked the claims surrounding the incident. Misinformation can sow discord and disrupt communal harmony. Your support matters greatly in our mission to foster an informed and united society. Together, let’s strive to make India and Indians proud, upholding truth and unity. Jai Hind.
