Viral 'Lagos' Flood Clips Debunked — Footage Geolocated to Accra, Ghana

Two widely shared videos claiming to show severe flooding in Lagos, Nigeria, were actually filmed in Accra, Ghana, AFP Fact Check has found. Investigators used reverse-image searches and satellite imagery to verify the origin of both clips and geolocated them to specific sites in Accra.

Screenshot showing the false X post, taken on July 9, 2026

What Was Shared

On June 29–30, 2026, social media posts circulated a video of people collecting goods swept along by floodwaters and another of a person (reported as a child in some posts) being carried by a torrent of water. The clips were shared on Facebook, Instagram and X with captions asserting the scenes were from Lagos.

Screenshots showing matching features in the false Facebook post (left) and the KDN footage, taken on July 21, 2026

How The Footage Was Verified

Reverse-image searches: Keyframes from the first clip matched a June 29 Facebook post by a page called KDN, which described the footage as showing Accra floods at Community 18, Toyota Roundabout.

Screenshots from the KDN video (Left) with annotated visual clues used to geolocate the footage on satellite imagery, taken on July 22, 2026

Source tracing: The second clip was found on June 29 in a post by Ghanaian broadcaster Citi 97.3 FM and linked to an original TikTok post carrying the same footage and caption.

Screenshots showing matching features in the ChannelOne video (left) and on Google Earth, taken on July 17, 2026

Geolocation and visual clues: Distinct landmarks — including a billboard structure, Evergreen-branded shipping containers, a bridge, and uniquely coloured roofing sheets — aligned with satellite imagery and street layouts in Accra. AFP geolocated the first clip to Toyota Roundabout and the second to Alogboshie Street in Accra.

Context — Genuine Flooding Across West Africa

Late June and early July heavy rains did trigger substantial flooding across parts of Lagos (notably Lekki, Ikoyi and Victoria Island), disrupting transport and services. Nigerian authorities had warned of peak July rainfall and possible flash floods, citing blocked drains and rapid urbanisation as aggravating factors.

Ghana also suffered severe flooding during the same seasonal rains. Authorities reported fatalities and large-scale displacement: at least 34 people killed and more than 89,000 displaced across several regions.

Why This Matters

Mislabelling footage during a regional disaster can spread confusion and inflame tensions. Accurate attribution helps humanitarian agencies, journalists and the public understand where help is needed and prevents misinformation from distorting public perception.

Conclusion

The two viral videos circulating as "Lagos floods" were filmed in Accra, Ghana, according to geolocation and source verification. While Lagos did experience real flooding during this period, these particular clips should not be used as evidence of those Lagos incidents.