In brief
In the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that killed 3,500 people, a TikTok astrologer known as John Moe The has been arrested for falsely predicting another quake. His alarming video, which amassed over three million views, warned that an earthquake would strike every city in Myanmar on April 21. Although the prediction led many to fear and evacuate their homes, experts assert that predicting earthquakes is impossible due to their complex nature. The arrest highlights the unpredictability of natural disasters and the potential for social media to exacerbate fear and misinformation in communities.
The 28 March earthquake had already inflicted severe damage in Mandalay and Sagaing, prompting an unusual appeal for international aid from Myanmar's government. John Moe The's TikTok account, boasting over 300,000 followers, has since been taken down after the incident.
