'This Is So Terrifying': Video Shows CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper Being Forced to Evacuate the Set While Reporting Live

During a live broadcast from overseas, the veteran broadcast journalist appeared alongside colleagues as a warning was issued, sparking concern among viewers.

CNN's Anderson Cooper, Clarissa Ward, and Jeremy Diamond are currently in Tel Aviv, Israel, covering the ongoing attacks in the country.

On June 23, 2025, while they were broadcasting live from what seemed like a high-rise balcony, a siren sounded, and Cooper explained it was an air raid alert, signaling a ten-minute warning of an approaching missile. This meant they had to head to a bomb shelter, and Cooper noted they would continue reporting from there.

While explaining the steps they needed to take, he turned to Ward and Diamond, asking if they were ready to make their way down. He suggested it was time to go, and Ward agreed. Still, the trio remained in place, and Cooper mentioned they would keep talking while the crew got things ready for the evacuation.

By the two-and-a-half-minute mark of the ten-minute video shared on CNN's YouTube channel, the commentary had wrapped up. Cooper then asked a crew member if it was time to head to the shelter, and they were given the green light to proceed.

As they began heading down, Cooper kept reporting, with the camera trailing him into a room where other team members were gathered. "I can hear the sirens going off. This is from the hotel, they’re warning all the hotel guests to go down," he stated.

According to Cooper, it was the first time they had experienced such an alarm — something locals in Tel Aviv had grown accustomed to in recent days since the attacks began.

As he, Ward, and Diamond approached the elevator, they continued discussing the situation on the ground. The journalists noted that there had been no reported fatalities in the past week.

Once inside the shelter, the siren sounded again, and Cooper explained that it was a minute-and-a-half warning before the expected impact. After watching the scene unfold on camera, several viewers shared their reactions, with some voicing concern for the reporters' safety.

One netizen summed up the general sense of fear, "This is so terrifying. I'd be okay without 'on the ground' reporting from anyone while this mess is going on." Another echoed similar concerns, urging the team to prioritize safety over coverage, "Omg, just stay safe. The reporting can wait. Ugh, watching this gave me anxiety."

One person wrote, "this [sic] is getting insane," capturing the shock many shared. Another user was struck by the level of danger, saying, "They are risking their lives. No words." Someone else voiced alarm over how calmly the team responded to the sirens, "Uh hello. That was a bomb warning. They weren't moving fast enough for me."

A different viewer echoed this concern, "You're so nonchalant about it." "My heart bleeds for them," added another person. Despite the anxiety, there were messages of appreciation as well. One comment read, "Thank you for the coverage. You are so brave."

This wasn't the first time Cooper put himself in danger while reporting live. As previously reported in October 2024, he covered a hurricane and found himself in an unexpected situation during the broadcast.

Cooper was struck by flying debris while documenting the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton in Bradenton, a city just a few miles south of Tampa. The incident led to fans urging him to be cautious.

Hurricane Milton, which had reached Category 5 strength before landfall, brought with it torrential rain and storm surges. Cooper, who anchors "Anderson Cooper 360," was describing the dire situation when he was suddenly struck by debris.

He reported, "At the water now, and it's really starting to pour over," as huge waves and strong winds lashed around him. After an object hit him in the face, he exclaimed, "Woah, OK, that wasn't good," adding that he would head inside shortly.

Fans online saw Cooper's live report and were quick to express their concerns on social media. One worried viewer exclaimed, "I am very concerned for his safety!" Another, clearly agitated, shouted, "NO. HE NEEDS TO GET HISSELF [sic] INSIDE. HE HAS CHILDREN TO THINK OF!"

Someone else urged, "CNN we get it...now get your people to safety, not risk their lives." A stunned viewer questioned, "Why they got [sic] Anderson out there!" Amid the chaos, one compassionate soul shared, "That is so scary for everyone I pray for everyone to be as safe as possible 🙏❤️💗."

Other reporters such as Bill Weir also ventured into Hurricane Milton to bring the latest happenings to their viewers. Weir reported from St. Petersburg, Florida, situated in the northern part of the storm's path.

As he provided live updates amid the fierce conditions, heavy rain lashed down, and powerful gusts of wind whipped around him, causing his red cap to fly away.

These situations mirrored the experiences of many as the storm persisted. Makenna Caskey, a resident of St. Petersburg, and her aunt were seeking shelter when a tower crane in the downtown area collapsed, crashing into a nearby building.

Caskey and her aunt were lucky as the crane fell on the building right across from their apartment. She was glad that her household was spared, saying, "The collapse and crash of the crane was about a hundred feet or so from our building, and nearly had a very different outcome."

Tragically, other incidents had resulted in reported casualties, including fatalities from a tornado that tore through a mobile home retirement community in St. Lucie County on Florida's eastern coast.

Sheriff Keith Pearson had not yet confirmed the total number of lives lost but indicated that it was likely more than one. Search and rescue teams, along with personnel from state and local agencies, were working to locate individuals trapped in the retirement community.

In addition to the mobile homes, hundreds of houses had been completely destroyed as the storm continued to ravage the county.

CNN's Cooper's work was focused on reporting social and humanity such as that of Caskey and the mobile home retirement community. He once emphasized the importance of not becoming desensitized to the death and destruction that surrounds us. Cooper noted that this awareness enhances one's reporting skills.

Reflecting on his time in Rwanda, Cooper recalled an experience where he took a photograph of a woman whose skin was peeling with heat. At this moment, he realized that he had begun to see the deceased not as individuals but merely as bodies.

He stressed the need to remain aware of the human reality in such situations and to allow the surrounding circumstances to impact him emotionally.

During an educative session dubbed "An Evening with Anderson Cooper," Neda Langroodi, an undeclared freshman, shared how Anderson Cooper's candidness and relatable demeanor inspired her. She mentioned his commitment to remembering the names of those who have lost loved ones, recognizing it as a way to honor their legacies.

For Tarrant County College nursing student Sasha Meraj, attending this session, served as a reminder of the importance of caring for people around the world.

Cooper encourages aspiring journalists to engage in genuine conversations with people, emphasizing the importance of listening with compassion and conveying stories compellingly. He added, "Make yourself indispensable. I volunteered for assignments that no one else wanted."

Cooper also asked students to strive for daily learning and to embrace the changes that come from their interactions with others and various situations. He shared his enthusiasm for his career, remarking that it doesn't feel like work to him.