Police have confirmed the video footage of a lava-like phenomenon which purportedly occurred at a Chinese cemetery in Batu Pahat, Johor on Friday and went viral on social media, did not happen here.

Assistant chief of the Inspector-General of Police Secretariat (Corporate Communications) ACP Asmawati Ahmad said investigations done at several Chinese cemeteries in Batu Pahat also failed to confirm such an event.

“This phenomenon actually occurred in the district of Pingtung, Taiwan, where the Wandan volcano spews lava and releases natural gas once or twice a year,” she said in a statement released yesterday.

Asmawati said fires which occurred in areas like the one showed in the video footage was the result of locals burning gas.

She said the police advised the public to avoid spreading such false news because it could lead to negative speculation.

- Bernama