The claim
The light beam in the video is a laser that started the fire.
Our conclusion
Wrong: The light beam is not a laser. It is a reflection caused by the light from the explosion on the camera lens.
Truth is often the first casualty when chaos and tragedy strike. This was also the case with the recent fire disaster on Maui. As the flames spread and people feared for their loved ones, a video spread online - supposedly evidence of the cause of the fire. But this “evidence” was nothing more than an import from thousands of miles away.
Maui or Santiago de Chile?
After the Maui tragedy, online platforms were flooded with theories about the cause. One video in particular attracted a lot of attention: a bright explosion in an urban street scene. Rumors quickly spread that this video would show the exact “ignition moment” in Maui and that the light beam in the video was a laser that started the fire. But the fact is that the light beam is a reflection created by the light from the explosion on the camera lens.
First you see the explosion, then the beam of light, which is a reflection of the explosion light on the camera lens.

The truth behind the video
But a closer look revealed the misinformation. A reverse image search led us to a video from Chile. In fact, it shows an explosion on a power pole in the municipality of Macul, Santiago de Chile , taken in May 2023 . Why this video suddenly appeared in the context of Maui remains a mystery.
The power of misinformation
In the age of social media and rapid information dissemination, it is easier than ever to spread misinformation. It only takes one click to bring a video or image into the world from a completely different context. This makes it even more important to remain critical and always check information.
Fact check:
Claim 1 : The video shows the cause of the fire on Maui.
Fact check : The video was shot in Chile and has nothing to do with the Maui fires.
Claim 2 : The video is current and depicts a current event on Maui.
Fact check : The video is from May 2023 and shows an explosion in Santiago de Chile.
Claim 3 : The light beam in the video is a laser that started the fire.
Fact check : The beam of light is a reflection created by the light from the explosion on the camera lens.
Claim 4 : The video shows an intentional arson.
Fact check : The video shows an explosion on a power pole in Santiago de Chile.
Claim 5 : There are no other sources or evidence for the origin of the video.
Fact check : Chilean journalists reported on the explosion, and a comparison with Google Maps confirms the intersection in Macul, Santiago de Chile.
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

