The Disinformation Bulletin, dated February 15, 2023, drafted daily by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications, Centre for Combating Disinformation and pointing out the truth of the news containing disinformation about the Kahramanmaraş Earthquake is released.
The claims that "They converted the Chinese rescuer to Islam with artificial intelligence", "Interview of the search and rescue team from Spain", "The debris is being removed before the evidence is collected", and "The change in water level in the Sea of Marmara is a harbinger of an earthquake in Istanbul" are included in the bulletin.
The bulletin indicates that the claim, "The photos of the person who came to Türkiye from China for search and rescue activities, taken with the mosque and the Quran, were produced with artificial intelligence," shared on some media outlets, was false.
The bulletin notes that Jun Cang, who was mentioned in the news regarding the claim, had travelled to Malatya for search and rescue operations. It also stresses that it was learned from the Yeşilyurt district officials that the individual had visited the mosque and had his picture taken holding the Qur'an.
The bulletin indicates that the unprocessed versions of the alleged photographs were retrieved, as well as photos from other meetings with Jun Cang, adding, "Assoc. Prof. Cihangir Tezcan, a faculty member at METU in the field of Cyber Security, analysed the unprocessed photos we have. Consequently, he opined that it seems unlikely that people would be added to the photo. Tezcan also found that the other photo we submitted (the one released in the media) contains evident alterations.
"639 personnel from Spain are still on the ground"
Regarding the Spanish rescue team's departure from Türkiye, the bulletin further emphasises that the claim by certain media outlets, "Bulldozers and heavy equipment are excavating debris. There are no rescue operations available. That's why they left the county," does not reflect the truth and continued:
"Search and rescue efforts continue in the region. The interview covering the allegations was published on the 7th day of the disaster. The rescue of persons under the rubble through the search and rescue operations on the 10th day entirely refutes the allegations. 788 Spanish search and rescue personnel was deployed throughout the region, and some 'light search and rescue' teams, who accomplished their missions, have returned to their country. 639 personnel from Spain are still on the ground."
"It is a meteorological event caused by pressure difference"
According to the bulletin, "the change in the water level in the Marmara Sea is the harbinger of a big earthquake in İstanbul" shared by some social media accounts, is also misleading, and "the change in the water level in the Marmara Sea is not because of a tectonic-earthquake, but a meteorological event caused by the pressure difference."