Disinformation Alert: Addressing False Reports of “Burning” Houses in Karabakh

Sometimes you start watching a video and immediately realize it’s meant to shock rather than inform. A recent video from Kangerli, claiming that “an entire house almost burned down,” is a perfect example.

The setting is Kangerli village in the Agdam district. The man filming theatrically focuses on the wall of his house. His tone, full of “I warned you” urgency, is often mistaken for civic responsibility. He says things like: “It happened last night… I wanted to show you… the child lit the barbecue… the wall is in this condition… if the fire spreads, everything could burn in five minutes…” Then comes the dramatic promise: he will set fire to prove it “burns.”

However, reality quickly undermines the drama. Nothing catches fire—the cladding of the house simply melts, as happens when any material is exposed to prolonged heat. Even metal behaves similarly under heat.

The video’s tension collapses because the supposed “disaster” is simply a minor incident caused by unsafe practices. Why was the barbecue so close to the wall? Why did the child have access to an open flame near the house facade? Why was this specific angle chosen for filming? In the end, the cladding melted, and the man attempted to turn his own carelessness into a sensational story.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations stepped in to clarify that the cladding material does not burn, emphasizing safety and discouraging others from repeating such risky behavior. Their investigation confirmed there was no fire, no spreading, and no danger—only a violation of basic fire safety rules and an attempt to exaggerate an incident for views.

Ironically, the man’s father, who lives in the house, stated calmly that the house is fine and there are no complaints. One simple sentence dismantles the entire video.

This story highlights a common trend today: mistakes are filmed, dramatized, and then responsibility is shifted elsewhere—to materials, authorities, or circumstances.

The key question remains: while the young man’s actions are understandable, why did so many channels and groups amplify this video, knowingly or not, spreading panic and misinformation? Is it carelessness, or deliberate provocation?