In the wake of the devastating floods that struck Spain’s Valencia region in late October 2024, a wave of conspiracy theories spread across social media.
Claims surfaced alleging that mysterious ships off the coast were somehow linked to the US-based HAARP (High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program), with some users even suggesting that these vessels had caused the destructive weather.
However, an investigation by AFP has debunked these claims, revealing that the ships in question were floating power plants and not linked to any weather manipulation technology.
The viral videos shared on platforms like Facebook and X claimed that the ships, which appeared to have smokestacks and high-voltage pylons, were part of HAARP’s weather-modifying operations.
One post, shared more than 7,000 times, suggested that the same system responsible for the floods was capable of “seismic warfare.”
Others echoed similar sentiments, implying that the flooding was deliberately orchestrated. However, these assertions lack factual backing.
AFP’s fact-checking revealed that the ships seen in the videos were floating power plants operated by the Turkish company Karpowership.
Experts confirm HAARP cannot control the weather, debunking claims about the Valencia floods.These vessels, which generate electricity using diesel or natural gas, are often deployed in regions lacking stable power infrastructure.
One of the ships, the Karadeniz Powership Osman Khan, was traced to the coast of Ghana, while another ship appeared near Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, far from the Valencia region.
Further investigation showed that these vessels had no association with HAARP, a research program designed to study the ionosphere, not weather systems.
Despite persistent conspiracy theories, experts consistently affirm that HAARP cannot influence weather patterns.
The radio waves emitted by HAARP’s transmitter do not interact with the troposphere, the layer of the atmosphere responsible for weather, making the notion of weather control scientifically implausible.
The devastating floods in Valencia, which killed 219 people and left 89 missing, were the result of powerful storms linked to climate change, poor urban planning, and inadequate flood management.
According to climate scientists, extreme weather events like these are becoming more frequent and intense due to global warming, making the region more vulnerable to such natural disasters.
While the conspiracy theories surrounding HAARP and the floods are unfounded, they highlight a broader issue: the spread of misinformation in times of crisis.
As the Valencia region rebuilds with the aid of a 10.6-billion-euro government package, it is crucial to distinguish between fact and fiction in the wake of such tragedies.