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Myanmar's Ministry of Information announced that a 21-year-old astrology content creator was arrested on Tuesday for making "false statements with the intention of causing public panic."
A 21-year-old astrologer in Myanmar has been arrested after his viral TikTok video predicting another major earthquake triggered widespread panic. Identified as John Moe The, the content creator posted the prediction on April 9 just two weeks after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed 3,500 people and destroyed historic temples across the country.
In his video, which gained over 3 million views, John Moe The warned that an earthquake would "hit every city in Myanmar" on April 21. He advised viewers to evacuate buildings during tremors, stating, "Take important things with you and run away from buildings during the shaking." The video's caption further cautioned people to avoid staying in tall buildings during the day.
Myanmar’s Ministry of Information confirmed on Tuesday that the astrologer was arrested for making “false statements with the intention of causing public panic,” according to the BBC. Experts have reiterated that predicting earthquakes with current scientific knowledge is impossible due to the complexity of geological factors.
Before his arrest, the prediction had already caused unrest. A Yangon resident told reporters that many in her neighborhood chose to sleep outdoors on April 21, fearing the forecasted quake. Authorities arrested John Moe The during a raid at his home in Sagaing, central Myanmar. His TikTok account, which had more than 300,000 followers, has since been taken down.
His online activity included other controversial claims, such as predictions of U.S. airstrikes and the possible release of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The video came in the wake of the catastrophic March 28 earthquake, which severely affected the Mandalay and Sagaing regions and led Myanmar’s military government to issue a rare appeal for international aid. The tremor’s impact extended to Bangkok 1,000 km away where a building collapse at a construction site killed dozens, according to Reuters.
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Source: NDTV
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