No, 18k people didn’t die in Friday 13th Japan earthquake

There has been plenty of confusion on social media as messages claiming that 18 thousand people have been killed or are missing after an earthquake in Japan on Friday 13th November 2015 are spreading.

A message (below) is spreading virally that claims that along with the recent attacks in Paris, Lebanon and Baghdad and a hurricane in Mexico, 18 thousand people are dead or missing after an earthquake in Japan.

Earthquake and upcoming tsunami in Japan, 18k people dead/missing. ISIS attack in Lebanon. Bombings killing 40 in Baghdad. Hurricane in Mexico. Terrorist attacks undergoing Paris. Friday 13th November 2015 remember that day.

However the message – which has sparked a viral rumour – contains a mixture of both fact and fiction.

The message outlines some genuine events, such as the attacks in Paris, Baghdad and Lebanon, that really happened on Friday November 13th 2015. The hurricane in Mexico – presumably referring to hurricane Patricia – actually occurred in October 2015.

And whilst an earthquake in Japan really did happen, the claim that 18 thousand people are dead or missing is wildly inaccurate, and seems to be referring to the 2011 magnitude 9.0 earthquake where approximately 18 thousand people were confirmed dead or are still missing. The earthquake that occurred in November 2015 was considerably smaller at 6.5 magnitude and the number of people that have been killed or injured as a result of it is at the time of writing is unknown, but it is not expected to be a substantial number.

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It appears the author of the above message has become confused, and whilst a number of attacks across the world have indeed occurred on Friday November 13th, 18 thousand people getting killed in Japan is not something that has really occurred.

It is not advised to circulate this message.