In brief
John Moe The, a TikTok astrologer, has been arrested by Myanmar authorities for inciting panic through his viral prediction of an impending earthquake.
During this tumultuous time, the nation continues to recover from a devastating earthquake that claimed 3,500 lives and destroyed historic sites. Authorities apprehended John Moe The on Tuesday, citing his prediction made on April 9, shortly after the catastrophic event, as an act of making “false statements with the intention of causing public panic.” His TikTok video, which amassed over three million views, warned that an earthquake would strike every city in Myanmar on April 21, urging individuals to evacuate buildings during the supposed shaking. Despite the widespread belief in astrology among some residents, experts maintain that predicting earthquakes is an impossibility. A concerned Yangon resident revealed that many of her neighbors took the warning seriously, opting to sleep outside rather than risk being indoors on the predicted date. John Moe The’s TikTok account, which had more than 300,000 followers, focused on astrological predictions and palm readings. His arrest occurred during a police operation at his home in Sagaing. This situation arises as Myanmar grapples with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake on March 28, which affected areas like Mandalay and Sagaing and even led the junta to appeal for international aid. The earlier quake had devastating consequences, felt hundreds of kilometers away and resulting in structural failures beyond the borders of Myanmar itself.
