In brief
John Moe The, whose viral video predicted a quake, has sparked public panic just weeks after a devastating earthquake in Myanmar.
Myanmar authorities have arrested the TikTok astrologer, John Moe The, for instigating public panic with his alarming predictions about an impending earthquake. This event took place shortly after a catastrophic magnitude 7.7 earthquake wreaked havoc in Myanmar, claiming around 3,500 lives and destroying centuries-old cultural sites. In his viral TikTok video, which garnered over three million views, John Moe The warned that the "quake would hit every city in Myanmar" on April 21. The prediction alarmed many, causing residents to evacuate their homes. The country's information ministry announced his arrest on Tuesday, labeling his statements as "false and intended to incite public panic."Experts agree that predicting earthquakes is fraught with complexities and is virtually impossible. However, the influence of Moe The’s prediction led to significant reactions, with some residents choosing to camp outside rather than stay indoors on the announced date of the supposed disaster. His TikTok account, boasting over 300,000 followers, focused on astrological and palmistry predictions, but has since been deactivated. Authorities raided his home in Sagaing, central Myanmar, where he was arrested. The regions of Mandalay and Sagaing had already been severely affected by an earlier earthquake on March 28, which left a mark on the local populace and prompted a rare appeal for foreign aid from the military government.
