Although it is not uncommon for Venezuelan highways to collapse, the video of the collapse was not recorded in the state of Mérida. Actually, it corresponds to an accident that took place in Türkiye. One of the main roads in Ordu, in the north of the country, gave way due to heavy rains
Text: Valentina Gil
“LAST MINUTE. THE RAFAEL CALDERA HIGHWAY COMPLETELY COLLAPSED AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE TUNNEL THAT COMMUNICATES EL VIGIA WITH MERIDA,” says a message circulating on WhatsApp. The text is accompanied by a video in which the accident can be observed.
merida fake
The Dr. Rafael Caldera Highway, also known as the Mérida-El Vigía Highway, is an intermunicipal road infrastructure in the state of Mérida. Contrary to what the message says, it is an intermunicipal “Superhighway”, not a highway, and it is in good condition – until the date of publication of this note.
merida fake
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The Autonomous Service of Tolls and Roads of the Andean entity denied the rumor in its official networks (sapvemmerida). «With total normality, the vehicular passage is found in local 008, the video circulating on social networks is completely false. Today, July 15, there is a normal vehicular passage on the highway that connects El Vigía with the city of Mérida,” the agency wrote in its publication.
Likewise, the Government of that state said in its official Instagram account that “the video circulating on social networks that refers to a collapse in local 008 is completely false.”
After doing a reverse search on Google, EsPaja.com found that the video has been available since July 12 of this year on the YouTube channel of TR99, a Turkish media outlet. In the description of the video it is mentioned that the collapse occurred on one of the main roads of Ordu, in northern Turkey, due to heavy rains.
merida fake
Translation of the description of the TR99 video about the collapse.
When the rainy season arrives, the Mérida-El Vigía highway is one of the most affected roads. In November of last year, a large landslide completely blocked the road in the La Trujillana sector. Likewise, in 2021, the Autonomous Road Toll Service of Mérida confirmed landslides on the Rafael Caldera highway, with rocks and bushes falling.
However, the video of the collapse was not recorded in that Venezuelan state. Actually, it corresponds to an accident that took place in Türkiye. One of the main roads in Ordu, in the north of the country, gave way due to heavy rains.
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