What happened

AI-generated videos showing fake images and clips of floods, destruction, sharks in streets, and dolphins in swimming pools spread online ahead of and during Hurricane Melissa hitting Jamaica. 

Categorised as a Category 5 storm, Melissa was said to be the most powerful and damaging storm of 2025 and the fake videos, many of which bore watermarks from AI video creation tools like OpenAI’s Sora, overshadowed critical and accurate storm reporting. 

This made it difficult for the public to discern trustworthy information and increased confusion during a dangerous natural disaster. 

Platforms such as TikTok removed some fake content, but many remained with disclaimers or community notes. 

Why it happened

The surge in fake videos was facilitated by the accessibility and power of text-to-video AI technologies, which allow lifelike, convincing videos to be generated and disseminated rapidly online. 

Storms naturally attract sensational and emotional content, which encourages viral spread of misinformation. The fake videos sometimes downplayed the storm’s significance or presented fabricated dangerous scenarios, complicating public perception.