You’ve probably stumbled upon a jaw-dropping image online—a blazing Eiffel Tower, smoke billowing, and folks gawking in disbelief. So, what did you think when you saw the pic of the iconic Eiffel Tower having an unscheduled rendezvous with flames?
Were you surprised and retweeted the image? Wondered how it had even happened? Well, we will tell you whether the landmark was set ablaze or caught fire.
The Eiffel Tower didn’t burn down or catch fire. It stood unharmed, contradicting a viral image. No credible sources support the tower catching fire, not even official reports or updates on the landmark’s website or social media page. It turns out it was an AI-generated hoax causing undue panic.
Did the Eiffel Tower Really Catch Fire, or Was It Burned Down?
Despite that viral image, as of January 22, 2024, the Eiffel Tower was standing tall, devoid of any fiery mishap.
Livestreams of the Parisian landmark confirmed its unscathed status. And guess what? There’s not a whisper about it on the official Eiffel Tower website or social media.
Even Paris’ finest, the police, seem to have missed the memo, with no reports of a blazing tower on their website. And you know what they say, if it’s not on Facebook, it didn’t happen—well, Mayor Anne Hidalgo hasn’t posted any fiery updates either.
Now, here’s the mic-drop moment: Reuters, the fact-checking juggernaut, couldn’t find a smidgen of credible reports about the Eiffel Tower playing with fire. So, that alarming image?
It turns out it was just a creation of AI, stirring up unnecessary panic. Talk about artificial drama!
But hold on to your berets because this isn’t the first time the rumor mill has spun stories about the Eiffel Tower going pyrotechnic.
Back in July 2016, whispers of the iconic landmark being in flames spread like wildfire. However, the reality was far less sensational.
The Préfecture de police set the record straight with a tweet that said (via The Wrap):
“Don’t spread false rumors. No fire at the #TourEiffel. An accidental truck fire took place. It is put out.”
So there you have it, folks. The Eiffel Tower may be a symbol of romance and grandeur, but it hasn’t had any fiery affairs.
Why do sensational images like this spread like wildfire on the internet? How can we verify news and images in a world where fakes can easily fool us?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
