A 7.4-magnitude earthquake strikes western Colombia on Monday, and a conspiracy theory spreads online claiming the quake is caused by a research program in Alaska. Multiple fact-checkers say the allegation is false and not supported by available evidence.
The Washington Times and The Independent both report that the claim is an old one that resurfaces after major seismic events. They describe how social media posts connect unrelated events or scientific activity to the earthquake without credible documentation. The Winnipeg Free Press likewise addresses the same theme, presenting it as a misinformation case in which users attribute the disaster to an Alaska-based research effort.
Across the outlets, the focus is on correcting the record and explaining that the earthquake’s cause is not linked to the cited Alaska program. Instead, the quake is treated as a natural seismic event, while the online narrative is portrayed as speculation driven by misinformation rather than verifiable facts.
