FALSE: SM MOA could collapse due to weak foundations

At a glance:

• Claim: SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City could collapse because the its foundation broke down, causing water from Manila Bay to seep through.
• Rating: FALSE
• The facts: This claim, already debunked in January 2020, has recirculated in November. SM Mall of Asia has also denied it.
• Why we fact checked this: This message was forwarded to Rappler via Facebook Messenger for verification.

Complete details:

SM Mall of Asia (MOA) will supposedly collapse because its foundations have broken down, causing water from Manila Bay to run underneath the building.

This claim was forwarded to Rappler through Facebook Messenger for verification.

This is false. This claim was already debunked in January 2020 when it first began to circulate. MOA has also denied the claim.

The message first circulated after the Taal Volcano eruption on January 12. The mall denied it on the same day. On January 14, the SM MOA Police Community Precinct confirmed to Rappler that there had been no incidents reported to their station that may indicate such damage to the building.

Because the claim began to circulate again, SM MOA denied it claim again on their official Facebook page on Thursday, November 19.

They said: “The foundation of the SM Mall of Asia Complex is built on concrete piles that reach the bedrock and will withstand extreme situations. Moreover, we also have rigorous annual checks to ensure the stability of the buildings so at no time will the safety of our customers, tenants, and employees be compromised.”

There is no further proof that the mall’s foundations have collapsed. – Vernise Tantuco/Rappler.com