Fact Check: No Tsunami Hit Indonesia's Gunungkidul Coast on July 1, 2026
Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A video falsely claims a 10-meter tsunami hit Gunungkidul, Indonesia, on July 1, 2026.
- Fact-checking reveals the video is fabricated, using clips from unrelated incidents in Jambi and South Sulawesi.
- Local disaster management officials confirm no tsunami occurred and urge the public to use official channels for information.
A video circulating on social media falsely claims a massive 10-meter tsunami struck the coast of Gunungkidul, Indonesia, on July 1, 2026. The footage, shared widely on Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, depicts high waves engulfing beaches, damaging buildings, and impacting tourists.
However, Tempo's fact-checking team has debunked these claims. Investigations using reverse image searches and verification with local authorities confirmed that no such tsunami event took place. The Yogyakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) stated the video was edited and fabricated, using footage from other locations.
Further analysis revealed that specific scenes within the video originated from separate incidents. A clip showing a wooden bridge being swept away by waves occurred in East Tanjung Jabung Regency, Jambi, in early 2025. Another segment, depicting a truck overturning on a ship due to high waves, was filmed on Kabaena Island, South Sulawesi, during a ferry journey.
The BPBD advises the public to rely on official sources like the Pamor mobile application for accurate disaster information. Weather forecasts for Gunungkidul during the specified period indicated moderate winds and normal wave heights, further contradicting the tsunami claims. The presence of ferry routes in South Sulawesi but not in Yogyakarta also serves as evidence against the video's purported location.
The video was edited and fabricated to reflect events in other locations. There was no tsunami on that date.
Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.