The Poynter Institute Menu Donate State Editions * California * Florida * Iowa * Michigan * New Hampshire * New York * North Carolina * Pennsylvania * Texas * West Virginia * Wisconsin Issues * All Issues * Online hoaxes * Coronavirus * Health Care * Immigration * Extremism * Taxes * Marijuana * Environment * Crime * Guns * Foreign Policy * LGBTQ+ People * Joe Biden * Kamala Harris * Donald Trump * Mitch McConnell * Hakeem Jeffries * Ron DeSantis Media * PunditFact * Tucker Carlson * Sean Hannity * Rachel Maddow * Bloggers * PolitiFact Videos Campaigns * 2024 Elections Truth-o-Meter * True * Mostly True * Half True * Mostly False * False * Pants on Fire Promises * Biden Promise Tracker * Trump-O-Meter * Obameter * Latest Promises About Us * Our Process * Our Staff * En Español * Who pays for PolitiFact? * Advertise with Us * Suggest a Fact-check * Corrections and Updates * Newsletters Donate #### Follow us The Facts Newsletter Sign up English Español ### Get PolitiFact in your inbox. * Weekly Email Newsletter * Daily Email Newsletter Your Email Address Sign Up ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on August 3, 2023 in a video shared on Facebook.: “We’re seeing two massive explosions on U.S. critical infrastructure in the past 24 hours that have caused power outages.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") * Infrastructure * Facebook Fact-checks * Facebook posts ![\\"Madison](\\" By Madison Czopek August 7, 2023 # No, ‘two massive explosions’ haven’t taken out US critical infrastructure #### If Your Time is short * We found no news reports of massive explosions in the U.S. causing extensive damage in the 24 hours before a video claiming such destruction occurred was shared on Facebook or in the 24 hours before it was released on YouTube. * On July 24, first responders in Pennsylvania extinguished an explosive fire after a specialized transformer failed, according to news reports. Officials suspect a Virginia gas line might have exploded July 25 because of environmental cracking. * We found no evidence that these explosions caused widespread power outages or gas shortages. See the sources for this fact-check A video shared on social media claims that there were two massive explosions \"in the past 24 hours\" — the result of attacks on U.S. critical infrastructure — causing power outages and potential gas shortages. In the video, an unidentified man said the federal government warned that \"something big is happening\" and that critical infrastructure was at risk. \"We’re seeing two massive explosions on U.S. critical infrastructure in the past 24 hours that have caused power outages,\" he claimed. \"Already, we’ve seen a power plant explosion. And now we’re also seeing an explosion that could cause massive gas shortages on the east coast.\" The 22-minute video was shared Aug. 3 with the caption: \"WARNING EAST COAST Gas Supply HAS STOPPED - FEDS issue EMERGENCY ALERT.\" This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.) ![](\\" (Screenshot from Facebook.) The Facebook post shared a video that was originally posted July 26 by a YouTuber who goes by Patrick Humphrey. Humphrey has nearly 89,000 subscribers on YouTube, where the video has more than 39,000 views as of Aug. 7. It’s an example of a larger theme on Humphrey’s channel: He regularly posts videos about alleged emergencies and warnings from federal officials. We have debunked claims from his past videos. We found no news reports of massive explosions in the U.S. causing extensive damage in the 24 hours before the video was shared on Facebook — or in the 24 hours before the video was released on YouTube. Although Humphrey claims the federal government warned people, we found no evidence or statements from federal authorities to corroborate his claims. Were there explosions? More than eight minutes into the video — after he repeatedly mentions explosions, people being without power and the threat of gas shortages — Humphrey cites a gas pipeline explosion in Virginia. #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on September 2, 2024 in a Threads post Photo shows Vice President Kamala Harris “in the 90s.” ![\\"true\\"](\\" false/33efdb6633e5e2fdc2d4e2f63383a1e0.jpg.\\") ![\\"false\\"](\\" false.jpg\\") By Ciara O\'Rourke • September 4, 2024 \"Gas pipeline explodes near interstate in rural Virginia; no injuries reported,\" read a July 25 headline from The Washington Post. A close look shows the story was written by The Associated Press. The report said that a Columbia Gas Transmission natural gas line in rural western Virginia exploded July 25, causing the brief closure of a nearby highway. The fire was extinguished, no injuries were reported and a section of the pipeline near the explosion was shut down, the AP reported. TC Energy, Columbia Gas Transmission’s parent company, said that it was working with local responders and agencies to investigate the explosion’s cause. The explosion’s cause is so far unknown. But a July 28 corrective action order the Transportation Department’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration sent to TC Energy concluded, \"based on initial observations of the failed pipe, environmental cracking is the suspected cause of the Incident.\" We found no reports or evidence that the explosion caused a natural gas shortage in Virginia or along the East Coast. The second explosion was in Pennsylvania, Humphrey said. He cited a CBS News Pittsburgh headline that read, \"Crews extinguish large fire on Brunot Island after reactor ‘catastrophically failed.’\" The report said firefighters extinguished a blaze overnight at a Duquesne Light Co. facility on Brunot Island after a specialized transformer failed and caught fire July 24. \"We arrived with our crews and had a large fire and some small detonations happening on the island as a result of a reactor failure,\" Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Assistant Chief Brian Kokkila told CBS News. \"This is a catastrophic failure of a reactor, which is part of the power grid.\" On July 25, Duquesne Light Co. said the incident had caused no injuries, public threats, power outages or disruptions. A search for news reports of widespread power outages along the East Coast revealed no evidence of a massive outage in the region or specifically in Pennsylvania. We rate the claim that the massive explosions affected U.S. critical infrastructure in the past 24 hours False. #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources Facebook post, Aug. 3, 2023 YouTube video, July 26, 2023 CBS News Pittsburgh, Crews extinguish large fire on Brunot Island after reactor \'catastrophically failed,\' July 25, 2023 The Associated Press, Gas pipeline explodes near interstate in rural Virginia; no injuries reported, July 25, 2023 Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Threat Actors Exploiting Citrix CVE-2023-3519 to Implant Webshells, July 20, 2023 Post on X, July 24, 2023 Duquesne Light Co. Facebook post, July 25, 2023 PolitiFact, The White House did not issue ‘official’ warning about imminent attack to critical infrastructure, Aug. 2, 2023 U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Corrective Action Order CPF No. 1-2023-051-CAO, July 28, 2023 WHSV 3, Possible cause of Strasburg gas line explosion found, Aug. 1, 2023 TC Energy, TC Energy responds to incident in Virginia, July 31, 2023 The City of Pittsburgh, Fire, EMS, Police Respond for Explosion and Large Fire on Brunot Island, July 25, 2023 WTAE, Fire breaks out on Brunot Island due to transformer that \'catastrophically failed,\' Aug. 7, 2023 PowerOutage.us, accessed Aug. 7, 2023 ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Madison Czopek slide 4 to 6 of 15 ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on August 11, 2024 in a post on Truth Social: Photo of Kamala Harris’ Aug. 7 rally near Detroit was AI-generated and “there was nobody there.” Attendees pictured “didn’t exist.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Madison Czopek • August 12, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Kamala Harris stated on July 27, 2024 in a post on X: Video shows that “JD Vance endorses Project 2025.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madison Czopek • July 31, 2024 ![](\\" black/4590875651af69b2c789ceab409664dd.jpg\\") ![](\\" black/72988380e8c8bd188dc360d11552e4a0.jpg\\") X posts stated on July 22, 2024 in a post on X: The death of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, six days after the Trump rally shooting was linked to her “oversight of the Secret Service.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madison Czopek • July 24, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" JD Vance stated on September 15, 2024 in a CNN interview: In Springfield, Ohio, “murders are up by 81%.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Madison Czopek • September 23, 2024 ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on September 13, 2024 in a post on Threads: “ABC lost $27M in ad revenue after advertisers pulled ads from the network after the way they hosted the debate\" on Sept. 10. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Madison Czopek • September 15, 2024 ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on September 12, 2024 in a post on Threads: An image shows Travis Kelce responding to Elon Musk X post that followed Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madison Czopek • September 13, 2024 ![](\\" black/4590875651af69b2c789ceab409664dd.jpg\\") ![](\\" black/72988380e8c8bd188dc360d11552e4a0.jpg\\") X posts stated on September 3, 2024 in a video posted on X: On June 7, 2011, Kamala Harris was involved in a San Francisco hit-and-run crash that injured a woman named Alicia Brown. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Madison Czopek • September 5, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Social Media stated on August 29, 2024 in a post on Instagram: “BREAKING: Illegal Aliens in San Diego, California, tried to hijack 2 school buses filled with children.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madison Czopek • September 4, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on August 25, 2024 in a Facebook post: “There’s no such thing as menopause.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Madison Czopek • August 30, 2024 ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/322c808c00e73c217d17772ddd5a0eb5.jpg\\") ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/8b142c91ebe468a84a192e6df2b7b994.jpg\\") Instagram posts stated on August 24, 2024 in an Instagram post: World Economic Forum “document confirms 6 billion humans will die in 2025.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Madison Czopek • August 29, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Bob Casey stated on August 22, 2024 in a speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention: “Prices are up because these corporations are scheming to drive them up.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Madison Czopek • August 28, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" JD Vance stated on August 16, 2024 in a post on X: “Kamala Harris wants to give $25,000 to illegal aliens to buy American homes.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madison Czopek • August 22, 2024 ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/322c808c00e73c217d17772ddd5a0eb5.jpg\\") ![](\\" Instagram_logo_2016.svg/8b142c91ebe468a84a192e6df2b7b994.jpg\\") Instagram posts stated on August 4, 2024 in an Instagram post: “The NFL will now use facial recognition at every stadium to verify the identity of everyone at the game.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madison Czopek • August 16, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on August 12, 2024 in a post on Facebook: Dr. Leo Ferreira, a cancer researcher shown in a video clip, was on the plane that crashed in Brazil on Aug. 9. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madison Czopek • August 15, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Jesse Watters stated on August 6, 2024 in a segment on \"Jesse Watters Primetime\": Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz “forced schools to stock tampons in boys’ bathrooms.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Madison Czopek • August 13, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on August 11, 2024 in a post on Truth Social: Photo of Kamala Harris’ Aug. 7 rally near Detroit was AI-generated and “there was nobody there.” Attendees pictured “didn’t exist.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Madison Czopek • August 12, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Kamala Harris stated on July 27, 2024 in a post on X: Video shows that “JD Vance endorses Project 2025.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madison Czopek • July 31, 2024 ![](\\" black/4590875651af69b2c789ceab409664dd.jpg\\") ![](\\" black/72988380e8c8bd188dc360d11552e4a0.jpg\\") X posts stated on July 22, 2024 in a post on X: The death of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, six days after the Trump rally shooting was linked to her “oversight of the Secret Service.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madison Czopek • July 24, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" JD Vance stated on September 15, 2024 in a CNN interview: In Springfield, Ohio, “murders are up by 81%.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Madison Czopek • September 23, 2024 ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on September 13, 2024 in a post on Threads: “ABC lost $27M in ad revenue after advertisers pulled ads from the network after the way they hosted the debate\" on Sept. 10. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Madison Czopek • September 15, 2024 ![](\\" logo-black-01/b6cedac93f6e57c68ecc025e5ec29d57.jpg\\") ![](\\" logo-black-01/438dbf066033f99de07598cbcc77ddcb.jpg\\") Threads posts stated on September 12, 2024 in a post on Threads: An image shows Travis Kelce responding to Elon Musk X post that followed Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madison Czopek • September 13, 2024 ### No, ‘two massive explosions’ haven’t taken out US critical infrastructure * ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 30, 2024 in a Threads post: Image shows a photo of former President Donald Trump wading through floodwater after Hurricane Helene. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • October 2, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on September 29, 2024 in a rally in Erie, PA: Kamala Harris \"let in the 13,099 convicted murderers and opposes all efforts to find them and to remove them.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Marta Campabadal Graus • October 2, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on September 25, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Georgia coach Kirby Smart\'s family ends relationship with Taylor Swift: ‘We do not support her endorsement.’” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • October 1, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on September 20, 2024 in a Facebook post: “TD Jakes MYSTERIOUSLY VANISHES: The search for the renowned bishop begins!” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • October 1, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" X posts stated on September 29, 2024 in X posts: A biolab caught fire in Georgia right before the 2024 election. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Sofia Ahmed • October 1, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump stated on September 29, 2024 in a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania: Vice President Kamala Harris “even wants to legalize fentanyl.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Amy Sherman • October 1, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" House Majority PAC stated on September 9, 2024 in a television ad: Laurie Buckhout is “trying to get to Congress to pass a national abortion ban, allowing politicians to ban abortions with no exceptions and prosecute women if they get an abortion, treating women right here like criminals.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Paul Specht • October 1, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump Jr. stated on September 9, 2024 in a post: “Less than three months ago, Kamala Harris and her administration blocked 300,000 unvetted Haitian migrants from being deported out of our country.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu • September 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" X posts stated on September 30, 2024 in an X post: Photo shows President Joe Biden lounging on the beach \"while towns all over America were being wiped out” by Hurricane Helene. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Samantha Putterman • September 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Social Media stated on September 30, 2024 in in social media posts: “Biden Announces: ‘2.4 billion more to Ukraine’ but ‘no more aid for Hurricane Helene.’” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Jeff Cercone • September 30, 2024 Load more ### Support independent fact-checking. 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We’re seeing two massive explosions on US critical infrastructure in the past 24 hours that have caused power outages