Claim: A Threads user @blackriverfilmfestival shared an image claiming it shows the Eiffel Tower engulfed in flames.
Verdict: False. DUBAWA’s research shows that the image is AI-generated. A review of the Eiffel Tower’s live webcam feed also confirmed that the landmark is intact, with no visible signs of destruction.
Full Text
Amid the civil unrest and violent protest in some cities in France, a Threads user, @blackriverfilmfestival shared an image claiming it shows the Eiffel Tower engulfed in flames. The post features a dramatic image of the Eiffel Tower surrounded by intense flames and thick black smoke.
The post caption reads, “This isn’t a scene from a movie; this is the Eiffel Tower in Paris.”
As of Oct. 22, 2026, when DUBAWA captured the claim, the post had received 1,800 likes, 326 comments, 185 reposts and 1,600 shares.
Other social media users shared the image as seen here and here.
The image’s dramatic presentation may cause users to interpret it as evidence of a real disaster, particularly with the reports of unrest and other developments in France. While the post’s motive cannot be established from the image alone, sharing such fabricated visuals as authentic can mislead audiences and exaggerate perceptions of events on the ground. Because the claim could mislead, DUBAWA decided to investigate.
Verification
DUBAWA subjected the image to four AI detection tools: Hive Detect, DeepAI, Image Detector and Faux Lens. All four returned scores above 90%, indicating a high likelihood that the image was AI-generated or digitally manipulated.
Photo: Image analysis of the photo used by the claimant using the Faux Lens AI tool
Photo: Image analysis of the photo used by the claimant using the Image Detector AI tool
Photo: Image analysis of the photo used by the claimant using the Deep AI tool
Photo: Image analysis of the photo used by the claimant using the Hive Detect AI tool
DUBAWA also examined the live webcam coverage of the Eiffel Tower provided by SkylineWebcams. The available live view shows the landmark intact, with no visible signs of the massive fire or structural destruction as depicted in the viral image.
The Eiffel Tower’s official website also continues to provide visitor information and access details. No official information indicates its destruction or closure to the public as a result of the event. Based on the live webcam review and DUBAWA’s image analysis, the available evidence does not support the claim that the tower is burning or destroyed.
DUBAWA also conducted an online keyword search for reports in credible local and international news outlets regarding the purported incident, but found none. Rather, we found several fact-check reports debunking similar hoaxes in the past.
Conclusion
The claim is false. DUBAWA’s analysis indicates that the viral image does not depict a real fire at the Eiffel Tower.