Incredible footage of a massive explosion.
This clip is supposed to show an underwater atomic bomb detonation from 1958.
In the video you can see the calm Pacific, which suddenly and explosively towers hundreds of meters high. The horizon seems to skyrocket.
The impressive video was commented on and liked a thousand times on Reddit. Within a few days, the recording garnered more than seven million views.
But is the clip really authentic?
The recordings are of a US atomic bomb test that was carried out on May 16, 1958 (Eniwetok Atoll, Pacific) was carried out.
The bomb called Wahoo was detonated about 150 meters below the surface of the sea.
The explosive force of nine kilotons catapults the water masses of the Pacific around 1200 meters high into the air.
The nuclear weapon was detonated as part of the “Hardtack” atomic bomb test series. From April to October 1958, 72 such tests were carried out as part of the operation.
The video of the Wahoo explosion was uploaded from the Atomic Tests Channel YouTube channel in July 2021. This is apparently a restored version of the historical recording.
How do we examine videos for manipulation in the editorial office? It is important to take a look at the details. The individual frames of a video often reveal whether a video has been edited. We take a close look at each picture and enlarge individual sections. Indications of a fake are, for example: a lack of motion blur, unnatural shadows or cutting errors. At stern, the general rule is: Seriousness over speed. We always double-check facts and material carefully before we publish them. To do this, we work with the cross-editorial “Verification Team” together with RTL, NTV, RTL2 and Radio NRW.