FACT CHECK: Video of flood in Mexico misrepresented as impact of Crising

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The video shows a June 2025 flash flood in Menchaca, Querétaro, Mexico, not recent footage of Crising's impact in the Philippines

Claim: A video shows a van being swept away by a flash flood triggered by Severe Tropical Storm Crising (Wipha), which brought heavy rain to parts of Luzon in the Philippines.

Rating: FALSE 

Why we fact-checked this: The video bearing the claim has already received 3.2 million views, 21,300 reactions, 2,700 shares, and 2,100 comments as of writing. It was posted on July 19 as Severe Tropical Storm Crising brought heavy rain to Northern Luzon, passing close to mainland Cagayan and Babuyan Islands before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). 

The video shows a van being swept away by a flash flood, with text saying, “Crising, tama na (Crising, that’s enough),” spreading alarm among Facebook users. 

The account that posted the video did not say when and where the clip was taken. 

The facts: The video does not show the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Crising. The flooding shown in the video did not happen in the Philippines, but in Menchaca, Querétaro, Mexico, on June 15, 2025. At the time, Tropical Storm Dalila was passing over Mexico, bringing heavy rains. 

Similar videos of the flood were also posted on June 16 and June 17, with captions stating the flood happened in Mexico on June 15. 

AFP Fact Check has previously debunked a similar claim linking the same video to flooding in Texas. Using Google Street View imagery, it identified the street captured in the footage as Calle Río Culiacán, which is located in Menchaca, Querétaro, in Mexico. 

Heavy rain in Luzon: Crising developed into a tropical depression on July 16, becoming the Philippines’ third tropical cyclone for 2025 and the second tropical cyclone for July. It intensified into a severe tropical storm on July 19 before exiting the PAR.

Even after its exit, Crising caused heavy rainfall and enhanced the southwest monsoon or habagat. In Cagayan province, the severe tropical storm displaced at least 2,000 families and caused an estimated P17 million in losses to the agriculture and fisheries sector.

Previous fact checks: Rappler has previously debunked similar false claims about flooding and storms in the Philippines:

• FACT CHECK: No 6 tropical cyclones entering PH on July 23, 2025 
• FACT CHECK: 2022 photo misrepresented as flood in Bicol due to Kristine 
• FACT CHECK: Landslides, floods in Davao Region not due to storm
• FACT CHECK: Wind speed not sole factor in determining degree of storm damage 
• FACT CHECK: Video of Brazil flood misrepresented as Kristine’s impact in Bicol 

Weather updates: As of Thursday, July 24, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is currently monitoring two tropical cyclones inside the PAR: Typhoon Emong (Co-may) and Tropical Storm Dante (Francisco).

For legitimate weather updates, visit PAGASA’s official website, X (formerly Twitter) page, and YouTube channel. Updates can also be found on Rappler’s Philippine weather page. – Angelee Kaye Abelinde/Rappler.com 

Angelee Kaye Abelinde is a student journalist based in Naga City, and an alumna of Rappler’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship 2024. 

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