Tag Archives: Rio de Janeiro

Does Penang Bridge Have A Massive Crack?!

Does a viral video show a massive crack in the second Penang bridge?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : There’s A Massive Crack In Second Penang Bridge!

People are sharing a video clip on WhatsApp, claiming that it shows a massive crack in the second Penang bridge!

WhatsApp : Penang second bridge 😲… Pls take care all driver

WhatsApp : Penang 2nd link. Beware, it is cracking. Lookout

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Truth : That’s Not A Massive Crack In Second Penang Bridge!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created / propagated on WhatsApp, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : That Is Not The Second Penang Bridge!

First, I should quickly point out that the bridge shown in the video is not the second Penang bridge!

It is actually the Rio–Niterói Bridge, which is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The second-longest bridge in Latin America, the Rio-Niterói Bridge was officially opened on March 4, 1974 – some 49 years ago!

Fact #2 : The Video Is Many Years Old

First, I should point out that this video originally went viral in 2014, and appears to have been posted on the TV Revolta Facebook group, which is infamous for spreading fake news.

The video appeared to have been shared just before Brazil hosted the 2014 World Cup, with the caption:

Assinante da TV Revolta registers huge crack in Rio Niterói bridge

TV Revolta subscriber records huge crack in Rio Niterói bridge

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Fact #3 : That Was An Expansion Joint

Even though the Rio-Niterói Bridge is 49 years old, that video did not show a massive crack in its structure.

That is actually an expansion joint, which was intentionally created during its construction, so parts of the bridge can move and expand without affecting the other parts.

Fact #4 : CCR Clarified Expansion Joint

When the video first went viral in Brazil in 2014, the bridge concessionaire at that time – CCR, confirmed that the crack was really just an expansion joint.

CCR also clarified that a bridge of such size and length requires this kind of opening to prevent actual cracks from forming in the slabs and beams of the bridge.

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Fact #5 : Penang Government Refuted Claim

On Sunday, 29 October 2023, the Penang state government refuted claims that the viral video showed a massive crack in the second Penang bridge.

State Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said checks with officials from both Penang bridges showed there was no truth to the viral post.

“Checks showed the video footage which went viral was an old video. The said incident happened outside of Malaysia back in 2014,” he said.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Did 6 Robbers Attack Man At Segambut KTM Station?!

Did 6 robbers just attack and stab a man at the Segambut KTM station in Kuala Lumpur?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Updated @ 2023-05-07 : Added PDRM’s statement, as well as my clarification on the actual robbery.
Originally published @ 2023-05-06

 

Claim : Robbers Just Attacked Man At Segambut KTM Station!

People are sharing a video on WhatsApp, and social media, which claims to show a man get attacked and stabbed by 6 robbers at the Segambut KTM station.

Segambut. Public transport at night

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Truth : That’s Not Video Of Robbers Attacking Man In Segambut!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Viral Video Was Recorded In 2022

While people are claiming that it just happened, but that’s not true. This video was recorded at around 10:30 PM on Sunday, 20 February 2022.

This is visible in the original CCTV video. The viral version being shared now intentionally cuts that out, so you won’t know it’s more than a year old!

Fact #2 : The Viral Robbery Happened In Brazil

The claim that this violent incident happened at the Segambut KTM station is utter nonsense.

Anyone who has been to any MRT / LRT / KTM station in Malaysia would readily point out that none of them have turnstiles like what’s seen in the viral video.

The incident actually happened at the Boiúna BRT station in Taquara, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Fact #3 : Victim Was Topping Up His Travel Card

Some people on social media claimed that the man was being robbed after he withdrew money from the ATM machine. That’s not true.

The victim was topping up his travel card at the BRT station, when two robbers came up the ramp to snatch his backpack.

When he fought back, a third robber hiding nearby came to assist the first two robbers. Then three more robbers jumped over the turnstiles from inside the station, and two of them proceeded to stab the victim with knives.

All six men then ran off, as the man stumbled backwards over the turnstile into the station.

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Fact #4 : The Victim Did Not Die

Some people on social media claimed that the victim died from the stabbings. That’s not true.

The man was injured during the robbery, but was taken to the Albert Schweitzer State Hospital in Realengo for treatment.

Fact #5 : Five Of The Robbers Were Arrested

Five of the robbers were detained by members of the public – two adult males aged 20 and 19, as well as three teenagers – two aged 17, and one aged 16.

Police officers later arrived to arrest the five robbers, and prevent the mob from lynching them. They also seized two knives that were used in the attack.

Fact #6 : Other People Were Robbed Too

This unfortunate man was not the only victim of this gang of. robbers that night. The BRT Operational Control Centre (CCO) raised the alarm when it spotted the gang robbing passengers.

BRT agents rushed to the scene, to find the victim who was just stabbed. Three of the victims later identified the five arrested robbers.

Fact #7 : PDRM Confirmed It’s Fake News

On Sunday, 7 May 2023, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) confirmed that the viral robbery video occurred in Brazil, not Segambut in Kuala Lumpur as alleged.

Sentul police chief Assistant Commissioner Beh Eng Lai said that the 41-second video clip titled “Segambut. Public transport at night” was in fact footage from an incident in Brazil last month.

Note : As I shared above, the robbery actually happened last year, not last month. This was confirmed by Brazilian news reports, as well as the timestamp of the actual CCTV video.

Please help us fight fake news – SHARE this article, and SUPPORT our work!

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

Recommended Reading

Go Back To > Fact Check | HealthTech ARP

 

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Please support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or donating to our fund. Thank you!