Myanmar Arrests TikTok Astrologer Over Viral Earthquake Prediction
Authorities in Myanmar have arrested astrologer John Moe The for causing public panic after he predicted a devastating earthquake in a viral TikTok video.
Just two weeks after a deadly 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed 3,500 people and destroyed ancient temples in late March, John Moe The posted a video on 9 April warning that a new quake would “hit every city” in Myanmar on 21 April.
His warning, viewed over three million times, urged people to gather their essentials and flee tall buildings during the anticipated tremors. The video caption specifically advised: “People should not stay in tall buildings during the day.”
Authorities arrested him on Tuesday, accusing him of making “false statements with the intention of causing public panic,” according to Myanmar’s Information Ministry. He was apprehended during a raid on his home in Sagaing, central Myanmar.
John Moe The’s TikTok account, now disabled, had amassed more than 300,000 followers, with claims of making predictions based on astrology and palmistry.
Public Reaction
His forecast triggered widespread fear, particularly in Yangon, where residents reportedly camped outdoors to avoid potential danger on the predicted date.
Seismology experts, however, stress that earthquakes cannot be predicted with current technology, due to the complex nature of tectonic activities.
The panic occurred amid heightened anxiety after the devastating March 28 earthquake, which not only rocked Myanmar but was felt as far as Bangkok, leading to fatal building collapses there as well.
Following the quake, Myanmar’s ruling junta issued a rare request for international aid to help with recovery efforts in hard-hit regions like Mandalay and Sagaing.
Background
Earthquake fears remain high across Myanmar, a country vulnerable to seismic activities. The recent natural disaster left widespread devastation, and unfounded predictions have only deepened the population’s distress.
Authorities emphasized that spreading unverified predictions can destabilize communities already grappling with disaster aftermaths.
