Claims That Viral Flood Videos Were Recorded in Lagos Proven False
Claims circulating on social media that two viral flood videos were recorded in Lagos have been proven to be false.
The videos surfaced after heavy rainfall caused flooding across parts of West Africa, including Nigeria, with many users claiming they showed recent flood scenes in Lagos State. However, investigations revealed that both clips were actually filmed in Ghana.
One of the videos shows floodwaters carrying away food items, household goods and gas cylinders, while residents scramble to recover them. Social media users claimed the incident happened in Lagos.
Reverse image searches and geolocation checks traced the footage to Community 18, near the Toyota Roundabout in Accra, Ghana, where floodwaters swept goods from nearby shops and warehouses.
Satellite imagery matched visible landmarks in the video, including shipping containers, buildings and roadside structures, confirming the location.
Another viral video, which claimed to show a person being swept away by floodwaters in Lagos, was also found to have originated from Ghana.
The footage was first shared by Ghanaian media organisations on June 29, 2026, and was recorded on Alogboshie Street in Accra during severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall.
Landmarks visible in the clip, including nearby buildings and a bridge, matched satellite images of the area, confirming where the incident occurred.
Although Lagos experienced significant flooding in late June and early July, affecting roads, homes and businesses in areas such as Lekki, Ikoyi and Victoria Island, the viral videos were not recorded in Nigeria.
The Lagos floods followed warnings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Lagos State Government about heavy rainfall and the risk of flash floods during the peak of the rainy season. Authorities attributed the flooding to intense rainfall, blocked drainage channels and rapid urbanisation.
Ghana was also badly affected by the same weather system. Flooding impacted more than seven regions, killing at least 34 people and displacing over 89,000 residents, according to Ghanaian authorities.
The investigation confirmed that while both Nigeria and Ghana experienced severe flooding, the two viral videos were filmed in Accra, Ghana, not Lagos.
