In brief
A TikTok prediction of an impending earthquake led to the arrest of astrologer John Moe The, as authorities respond to widespread panic among residents in Myanmar.
In a shocking turn of events, Myanmar's authorities have arrested a TikTok astrologer for allegedly inciting public panic after he predicted another earthquake in a viral video viewed by millions. On April 9, John Moe The warned that a seismic event would strike “every city in Myanmar” on April 21, just weeks after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake had resulted in over 3,500 fatalities and the destruction of ancient temples across the nation.Myanmar’s Ministry of Information announced the arrest on Tuesday, emphasizing that the astrologer had made "false statements with the intention of causing public panic." The alarming prediction led many to heed his advice, with some residents abandoning their homes for fear of the impending disaster. A Yangon local reported that neighbors sought refuge outdoors on the day Moe The declared the earthquake would occur, demonstrating how influential social media can be in times of crisis.The video, which garnered over three million views, included urgent pleas to the public for safety, urging people to evacuate buildings during the shaking. Experts have since highlighted that such predictions are inherently impossible due to the unpredictable nature of earthquakes, which depend on a multitude of complex factors.John Moe The's TikTok account, once boasting over 300,000 followers, focused on astrology and palmistry predictions but has since been taken down. His arrest took place during a raid on his residence in Sagaing, located in central Myanmar, which had already been affected by the recent earthquake on March 28. This disaster prompted the military junta to make an unusual appeal for international aid, with tremors felt as far away as Bangkok, Thailand, where a construction site collapse claimed numerous lives.As the situation unfolds, the incident raises concerns about the impact of misinformation on public safety and the implications of social media in crisis management.
