A video circulating on social media has caused confusion by incorrectly depicting the collapse of a roof at an airport in Chongqing, China. In reality, the footage shows a section of the ceiling collapsing at the Paradise Walk shopping centre during heavy rainfall on July 8, 2025. The clip, which garnered over 3.3 million views on X, misled viewers with a caption claiming it was an airport incident.
The misleading post, shared widely on various platforms, features dramatic scenes of water cascading from the ceiling and pooling on the floor. Onlookers can be seen retreating as the dark liquid spreads across the area. The post’s caption included a contentious statement referencing Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who previously remarked that “China is 10 years ahead” of India, suggesting a rivalry between the two nations.
Heavy rainfall has severely impacted southern China, leading to the evacuation of 556 people in Chongqing and triggering landslides in nearby Sichuan province. This extreme weather contributed to the conditions that caused the ceiling to collapse at the shopping centre.
Clarification on the Incident
While the video was filmed in Chongqing, it does not show any airport infrastructure. As of July 25, there are no official reports of roof collapses at airports in the city. A reverse image search on the Chinese search engine Baidu identified the footage as originally published by Sanxiang Metropolis Daily on July 8.
According to the local media outlet, several netizens reported the incident on social media platforms, indicating that the ceiling of the B1 floor of Paradise Walk had unexpectedly given way. The shopping centre later confirmed via its official Weibo page that the collapse was indeed a result of the sudden heavy rainfall on that day. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and shoppers were safely evacuated from the area.
The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by extreme weather events and the importance of verifying information before sharing on social media. As China continues to grapple with severe weather patterns this summer, it remains crucial to distinguish between verified facts and misleading claims that can lead to public confusion.
